I needs your thoughts on this please. Upset with Brownie fundraising.

Ephemera

Please, stick to your principles. Your daughter will thank you for it one day!

As a child, one of four, we seldom went on school trips because our family simply didn't have the money. My parents would have loved to have given us what we wanted at Christmas or birthdays, but we got what we needed and what they could afford. We learned the value of money and family, and the value of saving for what we wanted, and putting need before want.

I would far rather have had my upbringing that that of another child whose parents put themselves in debt just to keep their kids happy - the same kids who most likely grew up spoilt and impulsive, and prone to getting into debt themselves to satisfy wants over needs.

Hopefully the leaders will realise that not every child is in a position to be able to give merely money. They have so much more to give...

Lil2002

Until you explain your point of view to them, they might just not have thought about it.

I used to work in a nursery, where we would regularly do art projects with food. Macaroni glued on paper, printing with potatoes, stuff like that. It took somebody pointing out how cruel to put that in front of children who didn't have enough to eat at home, to make us realise what we were doing.

Let them know how you feel - there could be others who feel the same.

floss2

I agree - you should stick to your principles, and speak to the leaders. Times have changed and families who may be feeling the pinch should not feel pressured into giving.

The leaders should come up with a more anonymous way of taking the donations from the children, maybe a post-box for the envelope (with no name on, so nobody knows who gave what).

I was a Brownie when pin-badges were not given away because we'd raised money for somebody else. We had a 10 mile sponsored walk every year for the maintenance of our Scout hut - Brownies, Cubs, Guides, Scouts & Ventures all took part (5 miles for littlies) and the whole village knew about it & we used to be able to pay for any repairs & the heat & light. Other charities got the "benefit" of our knitting & sewing. Mind you, this was 35 years ago

inkie

Stick to your principles and go in and have a word with them. Our Daughters we're bringing raffle tickets home and due to religious reasons we do not gamble - we went in and explained the situation, and they now are never given any-our wishes are respected.

dizsiebubba

As a brownie & guide leader i find it digusting that th leaders left your daughter out. as stated earliar - it is all about the parents of some children. If you cannot afford to make donations, i totally understand - they should have given her something for 'doing her best' especially as the fund raiser was not even benefiting her, or her pack. The only thing i would say is maybe for future refrence, if the leaders are that clueless, maybe offer something as small as £1.00, just to make sure she is never left out, but i would definately ring the brown owl and let hr know how distressed your daughter was!!! She should never have left her out - even a sticker would have put a smile on her face!

Stephb1986_2

Its your choice if you want to donate to charity you shouldn't be forced into giving money to charity if you dont want to. Your daughter shouldn't be made to feel bad about it and I think you should tell the Brownie leader that what they have done is out of order and no kid should be treated like that!

If they want to get money for charity why not take it out of their own pockets instead of basically begging off other people to give them money. Charity begins at home! I always buy the big issue as because atleast they are trying to earn a living they are homeless.


Steph xx

Becles

I've been through similar with school. We have a tiny family, most of my friends are people with children in school, and I'm self employed so I don't have any colleages. Most of the forms go back with just us and grandparents as sponsors.

They used to give prizes for the child with the most sponsor money, Tesco computer vouchers etc., but realised it wasn't fair when some parents pointed it out. Now they award a prize to the class with the most money/vouchers etc., and they all get something like a mini Mars bar or 15 minutes extra playtime.

I can vaugely remember that Brownies are split into smaller groups (packs?). You could maybe ask that in future it's the group that gets the most money that gets prizes?

lostinrates

My parents were just the same when I was a kid. TBF I think one of the biggest gripes I have with sponsership for money raising is that often the thin they are being sponsered to do is either pleasurable (sponsered silences were VERY popular at my school and almost always had the class disolving into giggles) or something the child benefits from (sponsered swims, etc...very good and to be encouraged, but not really charitable!). As we got older one audatious person got sponsered to the tune of hundreds to cycle across Europe: essentially, his holiday plans!

I now take a harder line with my neices and kids friends. I sponser things like picking up rubbish from the roadside, hours spent in voluntary work etc etc.

I think the other big point to raise with the leaders here is that throwing money at problems is not really always the best way, whereas hands on donation of time would be a real gift. For example, the Brownies could arange to go and, say, sing a few songs at a day centre or clean up a local playground: learning how they themsleves can make a difference and directly give to society.

floss2

Becles wrote: »

.....I can vaugely remember that Brownies are split into smaller groups (packs?). You could maybe ask that in future it's the group that gets the most money that gets prizes?

Sixes (or that's what they used to be called!)

Running_Horse

I know of a grammar school in Dartford that sends kids on a £1,500 cricketing holiday to Barbados, and suggests they raise sponsorship, which essentially means begging from relatives. Great for those who can afford it, but it hardly encourages poorer pupils into better schools. I'm glad the OP has the principles not to give in, but we will probably cough up for an easy life when our little girl starts asking for sponsorship.