AIBU re MCR collection?

I think any charitable fundraising needs to be well focused and managed! If there was no information about how the money was to be used to support the victims of the attack would also have been wary!

I understand people's need to give, whether it be money or anything else. The administration of the fund will be a huge issue. There will be arguments about how to spend the money. Personally I think it should be used to give children something that they didn't have before e.g. a park, and something multicultural to foster respect and understanding of all faiths. I know this is vague but I'm a simple soul.

I don't believe you're being unreasonable at all jane, I agree with what you're saying and I can't see how money will help. Certainly if there are hardship cases amongst the bereaved, or if it will be beneficial to those involved to have a decent holiday, then money could be used for that. Perhaps even a specific counselling service for those affected could be funded but all these would barely make a dent in the millions of £ we're talking about. I have reservations about this mega concert on Sunday as well.....call me old fashioned but it doesn't feel seemly just 2 weeks after the event, and I also think there's a lot of grandstanding from the slebs involved. Indecent haste I feel. I like pensionpat's idea of something multicultural being paid for.

I also noticed that 80 civilians had been killed in a bomb attack in Kabul last week and over 300 injured....perhaps some of the funds raised could be directed here as a gesture of mutual support.

I agree Jane and you are not being unreasonable, far from it.

I don't understand raising money to give to bereaved families. How is that going to help, if this is indeed the case?

Although I understand people's need to feel like they are doing something to help, I really dont think that a few pounds raised packing shopping is going to in anyway compensate families in the loss of their children. Maybe the funds would be better aimed at Teenage mental health charities or something? I too am getting increasingly uncomfortable about the slebs jumping on the bandwagon of this concert. Most of them are not even the kind of act that the original predominantly teenage audience went to see. As for the ghastly professional Mancunian Gallagher, I truly depair of him standing their wailing 'Don't look back in anger', maybe he will just look at his royalties.This whole thing has turned into a huge public virtue signalling self congratulatory love fest, all we need now is bloody Bono to harangue us. Or is it just me?

Phew. No GillT57 it's not just you!

No Gill, not just you.

jane - thanks for having the courage to raise this.

c'lebs will be (media) damned if they do and damned if they don't.

I think it is all part of that public emotion stuff and the need for people to be seen to be doing something. I guess there will be very many who may have contributed to charities that will support victims but who do so quietly and privately.

Perhaps the collection was to help with funeral expenses and on going rehabilitation for those who have been severely injured. Do you live in Manchester Jane10? I would donate in that instance but would want to know what the money was intended for.
When DS died 30 years ago now, he and his friends had tickets for a U2 concert, sadly DS died before the event, one of the mums wrote to U2 and explained the circumstances and asked for some memorabilia that we could raffle at an upcoming sporting event. They sent a cheque for £100 which we donated to the Meningitis Trust. I realise that Bono and the rest probably had no knowledge of the donation and it was all down the management team, but it does make me slightly less cynical when pop stars et al beg for money for good causes when they are multi millionaires. Perhaps they do smaller things without making a fuss.

I think that there are lots of ways money could be usefully used..but i would want to know before giving money.

I believe Ariana Grande has offered to pay for all the funerals already. Some of the famous are quietly charitable-the late George Michael turned out to be a bit of a philanthropist, only discovered after his death. Is that not the way charity should be? A private affair?

I agree.....with everyone.

I said to DH that I thought this concert was being held too soon after the event and that even waiting until the summer school holidays, say at the end of August, would have been better. However, he did say that this is perhaps the only time this pop star is free to do a benefit concert.

The administration of the money raised is a query I had too - remembering how some funds have not been administered well and arguments ensued is worrying.

I think that there are lots of ways money could be usefully used..but i would want to know before giving money
I agree Penstemmon

I have just read somewhere that the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross's Manchester Emergency Fund.

Sadly, some people have already taken advantage and have bought multiple tickets which they are trying to sell on ebay. Ticketmaster is trying to prevent the tickets being re-sold.
Where money is involved, there are always some heartless 'spivs' around that is why I would be reluctant to donate unless I knew exactly how the money was to be used.

I thought Man Utd and Man City were giving £1 million - not sure if each or between them. Where is it going?

Apart from those who lost their lives and their families, there are many people who have had life-changing injuries and I hope that some of this money will provide continuing care for them.

I agree Jalima. I was talking to someone who works in the Children's Hospital where child victims are being treated and many of them will live with the physical and psychological consequences for the rest of their lives. Some will have a whole series of operations due to the horrific shrapnel injuries inflicted by the nails and bolts contained in the bomb. If these young people need support in future - and they will - I hope that the well-meant donations will be of benefit to them.

I believe its a Red Cross fund that doing the rounds,apart from funerals there are people who wont be able to work to support themselves and their families and with the benefits system in meltdown money will need to be found somewhere so yes I have given and will again if I come across a collector.I hope those who moan about giving in these circumstances never have to face anything similar with their families

I don't think anyone is moaning at all paddyann, they just want to make sure that the money is going to the people who deserve it.

Well-meaning people who go out collecting may not be all they seem to be - sad though it may seem.

How sad, over 10,000 people have tried to fraudulently claim tickets to the Manchester benefit concert. I know I have my reservations re this concert but this is a pretty low act.

My son's colleague was injured in the bombing, he is a family man, a scaffolder by trade with very serious head and leg injuries. I hope that some money is there for his family immediately, as they will be in shock and need to meet their living expenses, trips to hospital etc. I know the scaffolding community have had an appeal for him.

I wouldn't give money as I feel this charity is very well suported as it is.

The benefit concert set to raise 2 million and football clubs giving large donations, too much money in the end can also be a bad thing and end up with squabbles and money wasted on legal challenges etc. 'Enough is as good as a feast'. I am sure the families will be comforted to know that they don't have to worry about other things at the moment.

I am wary of all charities now, they can take on a life of their own.

Enlightenment, please........ Does anyone know if the government does any sort of 'automatic' financial assistance in the case of national disasters like these? I'm thinking of the immediacy of funerals etc........

Jane, I would have had exactly the same thoughts as you...and felt guilty afterwards. .