Charities generate a huge amount of revenue and expenditure – in the order of £30 bn, with over 160,000 registered in the UK. The good causes are endless and we may have all been involved directly, indirectly or both at some time. Whether it is a national or a local aid organisation, donating or giving up our time to help counts the most. As someone said to a colleague the other day, when someone gives you their money they show they can afford it; when someone gives you their time they are giving you part of their life.
In between my work and family commitments, I manage to devote varying amounts of time throughout the year to three charities:
- GBWR Great Britain Wheelchair rugby, a Paralympics sport where I am a trustee – see http://www.gbwr.org.uk/main/index.php
- Rutland Sailability – sailing on Europe’s biggest man-made stretch of water for people with disabilities – see http://www.rutland-sailability.org/
- Caravan, the charity for the grocery industry http://www.caravan-charity.org.uk/
Although financial funding is an increasingly common issue for all charities, very often it is the physical support generously provided by volunteers and supporters that is a rare commodity. Even in our very busy lives, perhaps we should see what time we could find to contribute to a charity of our choice – in my experience it is almost never refused! As the old saying goes “If you want something done, ask a busy person.”