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Charity Advice Needed

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morlspin:
Hi Guys

As most of you will know, I am currently playing poker for charity on behalf of the British Heart Foundation and every game I get entered into will have any winnings donated to the fund. I receive nothing at all and I am happy to do my bit, no issues here at all.

I am in a dilemma at the moment for a couple of reasons though and would appreciate your honest advice if possible.

All the leading UK tours have offered me free seats into their events (genting, stars, gukpt) and thanks to some great publicity, the leading poker travel company in the UK has also offered me free hotel rooms for each event. The only thing I have to pay for is the travel costs to each event and this is where my problem is.

I lost my day job in July/August and as a result, my finances have gone from healthy to having to sign on the dole for the very 1st time (ive worked 16 years) to support my wife and 4 kids. So paying for travel to events is a real struggle right now.

To cut a long story short, my question is : Is it acceptable/wrong/legal/etc to use any donations or winnings to fund these costs? I personally wont be taking a penny, the money will be used soley on train/air/bus fares. I have tried on numerous occaisions to contact the travel companies (easyjet, flybe and eastcoast rail) to see if they would donate a seat but have either had no reply (easyjet) or a straight forward no (Flybe and eastcoast)

So please if you can, what advice can you offer me? Has anyone found themselves in this situation whilst doing charity work? or can anyone offer any help as to what to try/do next? Thank you.

Waz1892:
Personally it would seem wrong to take money out of anywhere to pay for travel costs.  If your unable to fund then 2 options I can see,

Delay any poker until you can fund once you"re back on your feet with a job.

Or

Write/contact the poker tour and the charity itself and explain the issue they have as they maybe able to help if they are aware you can"t do it of you dont get funding for travel.

Another alternative maybe setup a just giving page for raising the travel funds you require?

Good luck, I wish you well, firstly finding work (your priority I"m sure) and if you get going your charity poker!

Chipaccrual:
Graeme,

Not really a tricky dilemma, as there are clear guidelines regarding this.

You have made an agreement with the leading UK tours to provide you with seats on the premise that all of your winnings will be donated to charity.  If you need to change that to cover your travel expenses, then as long as they are in agreement with that, then I don"t see an issue.

If you were looking to cover these expenses from any donations made direct to you justgiving page, then you are in breach of charity commission regulations.

I don"t think anyone outside of the UK tours should have any issue with this, as you are not gaining personally from this, and the time and effort you are giving to raise money and promote a worth cause is clear for all to see.

Clear it with those that have donated the seats, and then win it all.


Leigh

SirPercival:
I do voluntary work for a registered charity and am paid expenses for travel etc.

I think the key thing for your situation is transparancy. Saying upfront what the donations are going towards is best and changing after the event would be wrong. I personaly have no issue with you using my donation to fund your expenses but people should know your intentions before choosing to donate.

morlspin:
Thanks for your advice so far guys.

My aim has always been to be 100% clear and honest about the entire charity appeal from the beginning hence my decision to open the question up in public today.

From what Leigh has said above, im going to follow his advice and do what I have been doing all along. Ill keep on at the travel companies, will speak to the poker tour companies and make decisions regarding the costs after speaking with them.

So to clarify whats happening with the funds incase of any confusion:



* Any money given to me personally as a donation will be dontated 100% to the just giving website.

* 100% of any winnings from any poker event that I get entered into will be donated to the charity via the just giving website


This charity appeal means so much to me after losing my dad and my aim is to raise £5k by Christmas, i"m on target so far and thank everyone for their help, advice and continued support

Graeme

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