Why students shouldn’t be forced to give to charity

Giving to charity may be an important and rewarding experience, but is it okay for certain charities to force themselves upon us unexpectedly?

We’ve all been there, walking down Northumberland Street cramming an Eat4Less into our face when a charity worker asks for money out of our already empty pockets.

There are several things about this type of confrontation that set the alarm bells ringing.

Potential victims

Why is it assumed that people don’t already donate? At many universities RAG week is a huge event where thousands of students participate in raising money for various charities. Furthermore, charity is an extremely personal thing.

Which charity you donate to should come from what you feel strongly about rather than what you feel pressured into.

An average balance

Another question raised is how much do these workers earn? Most are employed by an agency and earn money on an incentive basis, how can we believe that these people are really passionate about their given cause when ultimately it’s just another day at the office.

The more money raised, the more money earned.

When on a mad rush for lunch during a hectic day at the library the last thing we need is to be guilt tripped, therefore a generic ‘I love your [insert item of clothing here]’ isn’t going to make me stop. I know my clothes are great that’s why I bought them now leave me alone, I clearly have shit to do!

On the prowl

The bucket beggars are stressing students out, creating resentment rather than empathy.

Grace Holland, a student who already donates to her chosen charity, stated when quizzed on the ethics of forceful fundraising: “Not once have I been stopped in the street and asked to donate anything other than my money, in a situation where I am unable to give money I would more than happily donate my time.”

Yet in this case, unfortunately, time is not money as it cannot be turned into commission.

Whereas there are countless volunteers who take time out of their lives to fundraise without the monthly pay cheque. I don’t feel uneasy and like I have to avoid these people because I know they aren’t going to give me the commercialised sales pitch.

Maybe one day we’ll be able to donate without pressure and stuff our faces in peace.