How to cancel as donation to Oxfam to to their use of workfare.

froop_2

How to cancel as donation to Oxfam to to their use of workfare.


I am not prepared to fund a slave labour organisation so I want to cancel my monthly donation ASAP.

What is the best way to do this?

PlutoinCapricorn

Is this a standing order or a direct debit?

If it is a standing order, you are the only one who can do it: the cancellation must come from your end. Some banks let you cancel online: one more payment may slip through the net if you cancel close to the pay date.

If it is a direct debit, you can contact OXFAM and they can stop drawing it - I would do it from my end though.

In either case, I would write to customer services telling them what I had done and why.

glasgowsaver2011

I would not bother writing to customer services

you are entitled to cancel direct debits or standing orders at any time

just go to your bank and instruct them to do this

PlutoinCapricorn

Froop is cancelling for an ethical reason, so may want them to know why.

There is a dedicated regular giving email contact on their website, which can be used to let OXFAM know the reason for the cancellation.

oldtoolie

I certainly would take it up directly with Oxfam. They need to know what supporters are thinking.

Alexd_2

oldtoolie wrote: »

I certainly would take it up directly with Oxfam. They need to know what supporters are thinking.

This is a good point without explaining why you have done so they may not consider changing. Phone them up im sure they have a customer service number with a dedicated fundraising team on board to help you.

oldtoolie

I suspect it is only a matter of days before Oxfam formally reiterates that it is not participating in this scheme. As campaigning policy, Oxfam criticised aspects of the welfare reform some time back. However, the Oxfam shops are a separate division of Oxfam and could well have taken on workfare 'volunteers'.

A number of charities and retailers already have withdrawn. Info here:

http://www.boycottworkfare.org/

Why not call the Oxfam Supporter Relations Team and let them know what you think.

To find out about Oxfam’s work and how you can support it please contact our Supporter Relations Team:
UK – 0300 200 1300
Overseas – +44 (0) 1865 47 2602
enquiries@oxfam.org.uk

WhiteHorse

Interestingly, Oxfam only took action after they were exposed. Which tells us that they were not only more than happy with it, but that they intended it to continue.

No more donations, ever.

Voyager2002

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Interestingly, Oxfam only took action after they were exposed. Which tells us that they were not only more than happy with it, but that they intended it to continue.

No more donations, ever.

I don't think it is as simple as you make out.

Oxfam is a charity, and so for many people it makes sense to give to them, whether in the form of money or of time as a volunteer. This situation is completely different from that with profit-driven enterprises: I mean, can you imagine someone using their time to volunteer at Tesco?

We now know that Workfare amounted to slave labour, but I doubt whether Oxfam knew about the element of coercion before now, and I am confident that if they had known they would have refused to take part. I have to say, I see nothing wrong with unemployed people choosing to give their time to Oxfam; and nothing wrong with the Jobcentres suggesting or facilitating this. OTOH I see a great deal wrong with profit-driven enterprises benefiting from voluntary work, and of course there should not be any coercion.

oldtoolie

Here's two stories about this issue

Charities pull out of controversial work experience scheme

http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/blogs/content/11582/step_away_from_forced_work_experience_scheme_charities

This one says, "Last Friday and weekend a couple of large charities have distanced themselves from the scheme. Marie Curie has backed away - but not before Sainsbury’s did – and Shelter stopped using the programme last year. Calling around the top charity retailers in the country this morning, I was pleased to find that Oxfam, British Red Cross and Age UK have not taken part in the scheme. I’m still waiting to hear back from many others."

---

The fact that the DWP claimed that some of these charities were on their lists for this programme does not mean that the charities were actually involved. It's quite possible that the DWP padded their lists in effort to show support for this failing programme.

Savvy_Sue

oldtoolie wrote: »

Charities pull out of controversial work experience scheme

correct link here