Nursery Toys

Violetta_2

smk77 wrote: »

I'm really just after some opinions on this one so would be grateful for some comments:

Anyway, the sponsorship form is from a fairly large children's charity. However, my wife spoke to the manager and was told that they were raising money to buy new toys for the nursery. This raises 2 issues:



2. They are using a sponsorship form for a children's charity that rasies money for children with severe mental and physical disabilities and life-limiting illnesses. The nursery is clearly misrepresenting. I don't mind donating spare money to charity but not a profit making business. Even if there has been a mix up and the money is going to the charity they're not actually registered as a charity here in Scotland and therefore are not allowed to raised money here!

Any thoughts?

Sounds like the nursery are commiting fraud (and defrauding a charity as well as sponsors!) as you are in Scotland I'd perhaps contact the Care Commission for advice & perhaps get them to look into things. Not sure I would be happy with my dd's nursery thinking it was morally ok to defraud disabled children.

Janepig

It does sound a bit dodgy to me. Both my children have been to the same private day nursery, DS is coming to the end of his time there has he is starting school in September, and I can safely say that in the last six years they've never asked for a penny extra than what I pay for fees (which is more than enough in itself!!). Yes they join in with Children in Need, Red Nose Day, etc... but they always pin a copy of the receipt for any monies paid into the respective bank accounts as a result on the front door for parents to see. They also collect Tesco computers for schools vouchers, etc.. but never ever have they asked for anything from parents to equip the nursery.

DS also goes to a welsh playgroup for a few hours on a Thursday and Friday and they are non-profit making and as a result they do rely on donations and fund raising activities (such as the £40 I paid for a rugby ball on St David's day - don't tell Martin!!!!). Much the same with DD's school, where the PTA are very active with discos, own clothes days and the like. Which I have no problem with because I know money is scarce and they're not over-pushy. But I would have a problem if the private nursery got the begging bowl out, particularly if it was in the guise of being for a charity.

Jxx

jellyhead

There's a charity that does this, but I can't think of the name of it. Barnardos toddle perhaps?

My youngest went to toddler groups and at 2 of them we've had sponsored events for a large charity but 25% of the proceeds went into the funds for the organising group.

Perhaps this is a similar thing? I'm not sure why a private nursery would need to fundraise though, but schools all seem to?

Felicity

WHAT!!!! A one year old child doing a 'sponsored bounce', how ridiculous. :rotfl:

Children at that age have no concept of understanding a sponsored anything and IMO should not be pushed into doing something that might not come naturally.

What if the baby does not want to 'bounce'? Or what if they don't want to bounce at the appropriate time and for the appropriate duration.:rotfl:

I would be questioning the sanity of the people running the nursery if I were you, LOL!

As far as them using a charity's sponsorship forms, I agree, you should take it up with the charity because at best it is a misunderstanding (again, look into the sanity of the nursery owners) and at worst fraud. I am sure a charity would not be using their name to raise money for a private nursery. Sounds very unprofessional to say the least.

My 18 month old goes to a private nursery one afternoon a week and we pay for the nursery including the facilities which includes the toys. I would not have been impressed if I had had this request, that's after I had had a good laugh at the request.

smk77

Felicity wrote: »

WHAT!!!! A one year old child doing a 'sponsored bounce', how ridiculous. :rotfl:

Children at that age have no concept of understanding a sponsored anything and IMO should not be pushed into doing something that might not come naturally.

What if the baby does not want to 'bounce'? Or what if they don't want to bounce at the appropriate time and for the appropriate duration.:rotfl:

Oh he'll bounce! lol! We got him a mini trampoline for his 1st birthday (the ELC ones) and he loves bouncing on that. As for the appropriate time and duration, I doubt that matters really. When I was younger sponsorship would be X pence per whatever up to a maximum. Now sponsorship seems to be "sponsor me and I might complete it but i'll take your money anyway".

Felicity wrote: »

I would be questioning the sanity of the people running the nursery if I were you, LOL!

It's fine for the older kids. Anything below 3 is in my opinion too young. Above 3 is still questionable! I wonder if they've got suitable insurance?!

Felicity wrote: »

As far as them using a charity's sponsorship forms, I agree, you should take it up with the charity because at best it is a misunderstanding (again, look into the sanity of the nursery owners) and at worst fraud. I am sure a charity would not be using their name to raise money for a private nursery. Sounds very unprofessional to say the least.

I'm hoping that it's just a misunderstanding. i.e. they've got some spare sponsorship forms from a previous event and didn't really think about how using them might be incorrect.

jellyhead

Must admit I'm confused by the comments about 1 year olds being too young for a bouncy castle - I used to take mine every week to a play centre with a bouncy castle.

He wouldn't understand sponsored bouncing, but the staff probably just put them on there for a play.

I volunteer in a toy library and the staff from the private nursery often bring their 1 year olds to play on the trampoline.

Spendless

I also think it's where for so much £'s raised for the charity an % amount will be given in toys to the nursery. I've seen these done before.

I can't remember when my ds went on a bouncy castle but since I've never known him be 'calm' about anything, aged 1 sounds likely.:p

jellyhead

I remember my nephew being scared on a bouncy castle until 2+ though, he hated not knowing that the floor was stable. He was also scared on fairground rides. He'd hate this sort of thing, bless him.

Spendless

Of all the fund-raising schools do for whatever reason,sponsorship is the one I dislike the most. I'll quite happily buy raffle tickets, concert ticket and programmes, pay for child's framed picture, photo, school disco,non-uniform days and summer/xmas fayre's but sponsorship I try and avoid - for the simple reason I don't feel comfortable asking friends/relatives/neighbours for money.

jellyhead

Grannies are usually happy to sponsor young children the first few times but I always feel cheeky asking. Roo's playgroup did a sponsored run/walk and I thought bringing in £20 sponsor money was good, but most of the other 2 year olds brought in over £50 and had been sponsored by lots of people, and by £10 etc. rather than the 20p per lap that most of Roo's family gave.