Shake, shake, shake...

Thursday morning was great for many reasons including the proximity of the long weekend. It was, however, almost ruined by some exceptionally enthusiastic “RAG-raiders” who accosted me on the way to work and then again at four different stops as I wended my way to various meetings in Central London. Their blatant disregard for the time of the morning (early!), the nature of the crowd passing them (commuters) and the basic etiquette of street based fundraising (basically no shouting, tin rattling or in particular arguing) meant that I had a thoroughly unpleasant morning. I also couldn’t help but think that maybe they were having a pretty rubbish day too – after all couldn’t they be doing something better with their time?

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“RAG-raiding” is essentially when students dress up in entertaining costumes and descend upon a town or City attempting to raise as much money as possible in as short a time as possible through the tried and tested method of shaking a tin.

Please understand that I thoroughly support their sentiments and think that actively volunteering your time for charity is something that should be actively encouraged – particularly amongst the “younger generation”. I think that to actively do anything for charity is brilliant – but what frustrates me is the lack of thought that goes into what it is that they are doing. Standing in a Tube entrance/exit dressed as Superman shaking a bucket loudly at 8:30am is not a productive use of anyone’s time and nor will it be a particularly successful one. At best I imagine a successful “Raid” will gross about £2,000 but the number of people and the expense involved in getting them there means that far less actually goes to the charities concerned. Coach, costumes and beer; although mostly covered by the students themselves will still need some consideration!

Also in busy cities such as London where people are constantly bombarded with similar requests it can actually cause harm to the charity being supported. As strange as this may sound I really believe that there is some truth to this; some of the harassment commuters were coming in for from these well intentioned, but poorly trained, fundraisers was completely unacceptable. I appreciate that it is a frustrating and at times thankless task, but just because you’ve dressed up in a funny costume does not mean that people are going to hurl money at you in fits of charitable glory. If a person cannot spare change, is late, hungover, listening to their iPod or ignoring you it is not justification to shake the bucket louder let alone abuse, harangue or demand explanations as to why they won’t give £1. Charity is an act of kindness, often fiscal, often spontaneous and if someone doesn’t wish to participate at that exact time or for that exact cause being called a “stingy c@nt” by a six foot four undergrad in a Bunny Outfit is not going to help matters.*

So what to do? These are indeed well intentioned, highly motivated people who are willing to give up a large amount of their time to raise money for charitable causes – they can, essentially, only be applauded. I just think that it is sad that in the first flush of youth, bursting with energy and ideas they have been convinced that the best use of their skills is to stand in a silly holding a bucket pestering people on their way to work. I think that this is a waste!

Having thought about it for a while it appears that a “RAG-raid” is effectively an incredibly willing, somewhat skilled and mobile labour force. Could it be possible to agree with a local company that they carry out a list of tasks in exchange for a specified donation to the charity they are supporting. Anything from stock-taking, to painting the office, weeding the car-park and if they’re on the right courses; graphic design, CAD drawing, website building – and I’m sure that they’d be more than welcome to dress up if they so wished. Imagine having Batman and Robin paint your office or Wonder-woman and Captain America do the stock-take – it’s a slightly more grown-up version of “Bob a Job”!

I think this could work for a number of reasons; a guaranteed amount is raised irrespective of weather or mood, overheads are fixed and everyone can still dress up and then spend the day working together as a team as opposed to being separated to stand shivering on different street corners shaking a tin. As commendable as they are I just think that standing on a street corner should not be the primary use for volunteers.

*Granted, I will in short order be asking for donations and support via this blog. But I won’t track my readers IPs and send them rude e-mails demanding why they haven’t supported me if they choose not to. Nor, when discussing this project or e-mailing contacts do I ask for support or that they “give generously” – instead I pass on the URL and hope that they visit the site. If they like what they read, or even if they don’t, I hope they tell others about it (please do) and may even contribute towards £1million (please, please do).