Villagers in Stretton-on-Fosse complain about unscheduled and intrusive visits from Red Cross chuggers
A national charity seemed unrepentant after village residents complained they were made anxious by chuggers knocking on doors unexpectedly.
Red Cross ‘chuggers’ – the term given to charity workers who solicit for donations – knocked on doors of residents in Stretton-on-Fosse last Monday evening (27th November) asking people to set up a monthly £12 donation from their bank account.
But many residents were not impressed by the tactics of the chuggers – two young men - and report being left rattled and intimidated by the duo.
Jennifer Bow said: “A stranger knocking on my door in the dark is not a good idea. He knocked loudly and kept saying it was freezing – as if I would let a strange man into my house. He told me half the village had signed up.”
Another resident Diana Kaiser had a similar story. “I was away, but he intimidated my cat sitter, making him feel guilty about not donating. The same story - that half of the village has donated, and it is cold outside.”
According to resident Steve Whyte, 67, the chuggers, although polite, were unnervingly persistent. “I told them I couldn’t chat because I was cooking. He said ‘Oh yes it smells delicious’, but I hadn’t started yet! He then went on about how donations would help people in the area recently released from hospital – I think he only said it because of my age.
“I guess they were genuine, but it felt odd.”
Parish councillor Izzi Hazelwood complained to the Red Cross, but as yet has not had a response.
She told the Herald: “I sent a complaint to the Red Cross on the day after and still have not had any response. This person did say to at least half a dozen of us that lots of the village had signed up, which was almost certainly not the case. We are still not clear whether they were indeed genuine. Face-to-face fundraising may have its place on a busy high street or during daylight hours but surely not at 8pm in a quiet village with no street-lighting in winter.”
The Red Cross publishes a list of places by district council it will be visiting in the month ahead, but Stratford district, in which Stretton lies, was not on the list.
The Herald queried this with the charity, and the residents’ concerns, after initially denying it had received any complaints, but a spokesperson merely said: “Face-to-face fundraising is an important way of raising money that helps us support people in crisis, here in the UK and overseas. It allows us to talk to people directly about the help they can give and the help they can get from our services.
“We will investigate any complaints thoroughly to ensure our fundraisers treat everyone fairly and respectfully and we ensure they adhere to our high standards and the Code of Fundraising Practice.”
Former NHS boss and Shipston Hospital campaigner Bryan Stoten is angry that national organisations like the Red Cross encroach on the territory of local charities, such as Shipston Home Nursing, on the promise that they offer something similar.
He told the Herald: “Great Ormond Street’s Wishing Well Appeal has raised an enormous sum but no one now seems able to turn it off! I well remember their collection tins at the Tesco checkouts within sight of Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital.
“Now the Red Cross are up to raising money locally and suggesting they are matching local charities - they are not! Keep your money for the excellent local charities - hospices and community nursing services with no highly paid chief executives and diversity managers.”
