[jambutty]

Amongst this morning’s selection of credit card offers, broadband offers, stair lifts and other junk was a letter from the RNLI Swanage, addressed to me by name and showing my correct address.

The begging letter (for £20) went on to explain that the RNLI is purely voluntary 24/7 and totally funded by public donations. Apparently it costs nearly ONE THIRD OF A MILLION POUNDS to run the whole of the RNLI for JUST ONE DAY. Compared to what the government WASTES on illegal wars, underwrites the Olympics that few outside the South East wanted anyway, spends billions on IT equipment that doesn’t do its job, ID cards to name just four, the cost of the RNLI is chicken feed.

The envelope contained the letter signed by a Martin Steeden (Coxswain, Swanage Lifeboat), a post card depicting a rescue, a small card revealing the cost of equipment vital to the crew and a return envelope.

To my mind the RNLI is THE REAL FOURTH EMERGENCY SERVICE (in spite of the AA claiming that honour) and to have it funded by public donation is an absolute scandal.

The police, fire department and ambulance service are funded by the government using our taxes. To compound the problem the various air ambulances up and down the country are only in the air because of public subscription. Would someone explain to me what is the difference between an air ambulance and a normal Paramedic ambulance that is glued firmly to the roads? To forestall facetious replies – I know the obvious difference. They both transport seriously ill or injured members of the public to hospital for emergency treatment.

There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that the thousands of charities do a vital job but I question the need for such charities. The answer is obvious. The government of any colour has and still is failing in its duty to the public. One way or another we all pay taxes so that the government of the day can cater for public need. The NSPCC is a public need, the RNLI is a public need, the air ambulance is a public need all publicly funded.

Joe and Josephine Public saw a need for something and as the government prevaricated and dragged its collective heels Joe and Josephine Public took direct action and formed a charity to cater for that need. Thus alleviating the need for the government to fund it. But then the government of the day knew that they would which is why it was slow in taking action.

Oh! Yes! The Lottery! Charities can apply for a grant. But it is still public money.

Charities are here to stay and this rant will not force the government to think again but the major high profile charities have become a means of earning a living by professionals. They have office staff who earn a living working for the charity and part of the public donations go to pay their wages, some very good wages to boot. Some even have professional fund-raisers who earn a good living getting the rest of us to donate a few quid. And to add insult to injury the charity figurehead is the one who gets an ‘honour’.

For me a charity manned and womanned by volunteers and funded by public subscription should not use the raised capital to pay wages. Anyone working for a charity should do so by giving their time for FREE and I mean EVERYONE. All money raised should be used to supply the charitable service that the government has neglected to do.

No doubt the printer who supplied the RNLI letter etc SOLD the goods to the RNLI and thus made money out of doing so. Not very charitable!!! It would be a positive gesture if all suppliers of stationary and equipment to charitable institutions did so at cost. No one should make money out of a publicly funded charity.

OK! Rant over. I know that it won’t have an effect on the reality of life but it makes me feel better for having said my piece.