Samaritans denied lottery funds

[Ramrod]

For not helping minorities

“We are very disappointed to be turned down. We accept any callers of whatever creed or colour,� she said.

“We have no barriers, yet the lottery organisers are saying we are not targeting specific groups. We are not discriminatory, but it seems we have been discriminated against. It feels like they’re saying our work isn’t worthwhile.�

[Padawan]

Sounds a bit like the mountain rescuers in Wales I read about a few weeks ago.

They were denied lottery money because the majority of people they rescued were not in the ethnic minority



makes absolutely no sense to me ???????

[STONEISLAND]

If the change the name to imergrats helpline they will get $$$$$$ s

Its crazy.

OK, I knew this was coming. Before everyone gets once more all high and mighty about this could I point out that ethnic minorities were just one of several 'priority' groups identified by the National Lottery Board alongside the young and the elderly and a rather catch all 'people who are disadvantaged'. So why, again, is it ethnic minorities who topped the news agenda? 'Grant denied for failing to help elderly' doesn't have quite the same ring, nor racist undercurrents, I suppose. Still good excuse for the Daily Express to have a pop at ethnic minorities on its front page yet again. When such stories arise it is always useful to dig a bit deeper than the cursory, biased and bigoted reporting we are currently being treated to.

Whether this particularly branch did or did not satisfy the priority criteria is perhaps another point and I'm not sure in my own mind that the grant should have been denie,d simply because of the work the Samaritans do. They save lives. Of course there is also the question of why they are dependent on Lottery support instead of being funded through local/central Government (as many other voluntary organisation projects are).

[Stuart C]

That's wrong. How can the Samaritans discriminate for or against someone? All they get is a voice on the phone or an email. You can't always tell someone's ethnic group from their voice or writing style.

The Samaritans do not, and should not, discriminate.

Originally Posted by scastle

That's wrong. How can the Samaritans discriminate for or against someone? All they get is a voice on the phone or an email. You can't always tell someone's ethnic group from their voice or writing style.

The Samaritans do not, and should not, discriminate.

I agree. I suspect the reason for the failed application is not because the Lottery folk believe there is active discrimination but that the service does not appeal (not really the right word in the circs) to sections of society. This probably causes problems in satisfying the wider remit of the Nat Lottery Board and that the rules, rather than sense, therefore prevented the application succeeding.

[ian@huth]

I have always thought that proceeds from the lottery should be to some extent directed to what the players (payers) want. They could always have a column on the playcard where you could tick your choice. This could be a list such as sports, arts, medical research, education, charities, etc. Most people that I have discussed the lottery with have agreed that lottery cash is not spent in the right areas and some is foolishly spent whilst very deserving causes get nothing.

Originally Posted by ianathuth

I have always thought that proceeds from the lottery should be to some extent directed to what the players (payers) want. They could always have a column on the playcard where you could tick your choice. This could be a list such as sports, arts, medical research, education, charities, etc. Most people that I have discussed the lottery with have agreed that lottery cash is not spent in the right areas and some is foolishly spent whilst very deserving causes get nothing.

Of course our perception of what Lottery money is spent on gets remarkably skewed by press coverage. It's only news when money goes to a supposedly 'undeserving' cause.

I've always thought of the lottery as a tax on the poor anyway. Yes its voluntary but why do people enter a draw with a 1:14,000,000 chance of winning the top prize? Many projects funded by the lottery should, to my mind, be funded from the public purse.

[Russ B]

It would be nice if those who play the lottery had an option to decide where their percentage goes.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by andyl

Of course our perception of what Lottery money is spent on gets remarkably skewed by press coverage. It's only news when money goes to a supposedly 'undeserving' cause.

I've always thought of the lottery as a tax on the poor anyway. Yes its voluntary but why do people enter a draw with a 1:14,000,000 chance of winning the top prize? Many projects funded by the lottery should, to my mind, be funded from the public purse.

Many people play the lottery because of one of the most important things about being human, the ability to dream. That is what keeps a lot of people going.

[Gareth]

It's also scandalous that only 28p from every £1 spent is given to charity.... 72% of all revenue remains in Camelot's coffers, but that's probably best saved for another thread.

I agree that the general public is not given enough feedback on what causes should be targetted. I don't think that the UK Network of Sex Work Projects is a valid cause, because it concerns a small percentage of the population, but that's just my own opinion. The Samaritans deal with issues that affect a much larger portion of the population, so should, imo, take preference when grants are dished out. I'm not saying that the reasons for needing the money are any more or less important for a minority charity, but I do feel that if more people are directly affected then this should be one of the main criteria.

Originally Posted by Gareth

It's also scandalous that only 28p from every £1 spent is given to charity.... 72% of all revenue remains in Camelot's coffers, but that's probably best saved for another thread.

I agree that the general public is not given enough feedback on what causes should be targetted. I don't think that the UK Network of Sex Work Projects is a valid cause, because it concerns a small percentage of the population, but that's just my own opinion. The Samaritans deal with issues that affect a much larger portion of the population, so should, imo, take preference when grants are dished out. I'm not saying that the reasons for needing the money are any more or less important for a minority charity, but I do feel that if more people are directly affected then this should be one of the main criteria.

Surely the Lottery should benefit all in society, not just the majority (and there's certainly a case for favouring the disadvantaged, whatever their background, age, ability or ethnicity). If you look at where the money has been spent, it's fairly widespread and, as far as I can seem, encompasses a wide section of society. But what happens is the Express/Mail/Sun get hold of a grant which they, pursuing their agenda, believe is wrong, and blow it all out of proportion. It's the wider picture that needs to be looked at, not the individual cases that grab headlines (and, as with this one, are misreported)

[Ramrod]

BBC

[Caspar]

Out of interest where do the Samaritans usually get their money from?

Just to point out this story is just concerns a local branch of the Samaritans in Sheffield, if you read Ramrod's BBC article it explains the funds position.

I'm not saying they're right tho... one question is how come the fund only had 5.3M!...surely there's more money in the lottery than a measily 5M! ....again this could just be the local branch of the lottery fund!...

Maybe the Samaritans should seek lottery grant at the central national level...taking the whole organisational charity as a whole...then maybe Sheffield will get the money via Dover's Samaritans branch who do deal with immigrants!

[Mr_love_monkey]

Originally Posted by Gareth

It's also scandalous that only 28p from every £1 spent is given to charity.... 72% of all revenue remains in Camelot's coffers, but that's probably best saved for another thread.

But what % goes into the prize pot?