disappointed with SFC

[sad saints fan]

My sister does quite a lot of work for a local charity that helps the families of people who are doing time. Not the most popular of causes I know but that is beside the point.

As you can well imagine a lot of the children who have fathers inside are well into football,so my sister contacted both Saints and Portsmouth to see if there was anything they could donate either to auction or even some small tokens as gifts for these kids.

In the post today came a Pompey away shirt signed by all of the cup final squad as of yet not even a reply from the Saints.

I said to her that maybe her letter got lost in the post ,but she did it all by e mail and she has sent several to Saints but this was the first time she tried Portsmouth.

Any one know who would be in charge of this sort of thing at SMS

[RonManager]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/ContactUs/0,,10280,00.html

[The Kraken]

Rather than send email after email, not receive a single response (which kind of hints that the mails are not getting through to the right person), why not actually give the club a call (or better still drop in there) and find out who the actual person to ask about this would be?

[SET]

Charities in aid of criminals, is that for real.

 

Saints ain't the disgraceful ones here

[Ohio Saint]

Rather than send email after email, not receive a single response (which kind of hints that the mails are not getting through to the right person), why not actually give the club a call (or better still drop in there) and find out who the actual person to ask about this would be?

 

Yup. email is not really the way to go. It lacks commitment IMO.

[saintwarwick]

My sister does quite a lot of work for a local charity that helps the families of people who are doing time. Not the most popular of causes I know but that is beside the point.

As you can well imagine a lot of the children who have fathers inside are well into football,so my sister contacted both Saints and Portsmouth to see if there was anything they could donate either to auction or even some small tokens as gifts for these kids.

In the post today came a Pompey away shirt signed by all of the cup final squad as of yet not even a reply from the Saints.

I said to her that maybe her letter got lost in the post ,but she did it all by e mail and she has sent several to Saints but this was the first time she tried Portsmouth.

Any one know who would be in charge of this sort of thing at SMS

 

Just give it time rather than assume you won't get a reply, you have only just received the pompey gift ffs.

[Colinjb]

Charities in aid of criminals, is that for real.

 

Saints ain't the disgraceful ones here

 

makes sense that the Skates want to get involved!

[Ohio Saint]

Just give it time rather than assume you won't get a reply, you have only just received the pompey gift ffs.

 

And an AWAY shirt too!....Just sayin'

 

It was probably hot.

[SNSUN]

There must be some old stock in the Megastore they could spare...

[MarkSFC]

The "criminal" aspect of the charity probably appeals to Pompey....kindred spirits!

[Ohio Saint]

Not the most popular of causes I know but that is beside the point.

 

With all due respect, the nature of the charity is not beside the point.

 

Saints are a business with a very good history of charitable deeds. They have bent over backwards in all manner of good causes. If they choose not to support this one, then it is up to them, and there should be no cause to feel disappointed in them.

[sad saints fan]

With all due respect, the nature of the charity is not beside the point.

 

Saints are a business with a very good history of charitable deeds. They have bent over backwards in all manner of good causes. If they choose not to support this one, then it is up to them, and there should be no cause to feel disappointed in them.

 

It is not that they chose not to it is the lack of any kind of response,but I will take on board what others have said and tell my sister to try a more direct approach to the club.

[saintkiptanui]

With all due respect, the nature of the charity is not beside the point.

 

Saints are a business with a very good history of charitable deeds. They have bent over backwards in all manner of good causes. If they choose not to support this one, then it is up to them, and there should be no cause to feel disappointed in them.

Exactly, I can see this decending into a Cortese bashing thread.

[sad saints fan]

Charities in aid of criminals, is that for real.

 

Saints ain't the disgraceful ones here

 

Not for criminals but there families.They have committed no crimes. Especially the children.

[Ohio Saint]

It is not that they chose not to it is the lack of any kind of response,but I will take on board what others have said and tell my sister to try a more direct approach to the club.

 

Yup! A handwritten letter would be much better. Then a phone call asking if the letter had been received etc. That would give a possible opening to arrange a meeting with the relevant person.

[sad saints fan]

Exactly, I can see this decending into a Cortese bashing thread.

 

I would not want that to happen as I think NC is doing an outstanding job.

[Ohio Saint]

Not for criminals but there families.They have committed no crimes. Especially the children.

 

But you must also understand that some people could think that these children are being rewarded for their parent's criminal behaviour. It's a tricky one, for sure.

[The Kraken]

It is not that they chose not to it is the lack of any kind of response,but I will take on board what others have said and tell my sister to try a more direct approach to the club.

 

Indeed. Think about what your sister is doing; she's asking the club to go out of their way and donate something to her for free. Bombarding a potential dead-end with email is really not the way to do this type of thing, as its completely faceless, quite lazy and frankly a bit rude. Sometimes clubs will respond favourably to an email, others will not, and really if they do choose to not oblige in her request then they should certianly not be berated on an internet forum for that. Particularly when you don't even know if the emails are getting through.

 

As Ohio has said, the club have helped out a huge number of charities in the past and I'm sure will continue to do so in the future. And its always best to start these things with a phone call, shows more initiative and committment.

[Hatch]

I hope the club reads this and donates something to a victims of crime charity instead of a benefit from crime charity

[Victor]

Charities in aid of criminals, is that for real.

 

Saints ain't the disgraceful ones here

 

 

I think you need to:

 

a) read the original post - the charity is for CHILDREN whose parents are inside. (the children

are not criminals and, anyway, you can be inside for many reasons: remand, a moment of

madness, a moment of carelessness etc., not all necessarily 'criminal')

 

b) grow up.

[Elias]

Why doesn't she devote her time to a charity involved in helping victims and the families of victims?

[NickG]

I would imagine they get literally hundreds of charities contacting them.

 

They would be best having one or two favoured ones and let it be known they will not get bogged down with loads.

 

Maybe the email arrived the same day as unicef, nspcc, rainbow trust, help for heroes, macmillan etc

 

What help do these families need? Genuine question, were they ok when supported by crime? Are they on benefits?

[JohnB]

I too would suggest a personal letter - my boy's school sent several begging letters to local companies asking for donations for a summer auction and Saints came up trumps - they provided a home shirt and a triangle emblem thing (there is a name for them, but I've forgotten it), both signed by the first team squad.

[Ohio Saint]

I think you need to:

 

a) read the original post - the charity is for CHILDREN whose parents are inside. (the children

are not criminals and, anyway, you can be inside for many reasons: remand, a moment of

madness, a moment of carelessness etc., not all necessarily 'criminal')

 

b) grow up.

 

As I said before. These kids could be seen as benefiting from the criminal actions of their parents. Not a good example, necessarily.

 

I have no dog in this fight, but I can understand why some companies might want to stay away from it.

[Pancake]

I hope the club reads this and donates something to a victims of crime charity instead of a benefit from crime charity

 

Like.

[Glasgow_Saint]

A child doesnt decide/choose for his parent(s) to do crime/time. If someone is prepared to look out for these kids and try and make life a little easier, then fair play.

 

Saints should donate a few tickets to the Reading friendly....there will be plenty of empty seats!!

[Ohio Saint]

A child doesnt decide/choose for his parent(s) to do crime/time. If someone is prepared to look out for these kids and try and make life a little easier, then fair play.

 

Saints should donate a few tickets to the Reading friendly....there will be plenty of empty seats!!

 

In that regard, Saints could donate 10,000 tickets to Pompey and re-rehabilitate half of Portsmouth!

[anothersaintinsouthsea]

A child doesnt decide/choose for his parent(s) to do crime/time. If someone is prepared to look out for these kids and try and make life a little easier, then fair play.

 

 

Seconded. It's easy to lazily conjure up images of criminals and their families living the life on reilly on the proceeds of their ill gotten gains but the reality is the vast majority of criminals especially those inside aren't well off. Moreover their kids have no choice in the matter.

 

On the other hand I bet Saints get loads of requests from charities so there is bound to be some who miss out.

[anothersaintinsouthsea]

Why doesn't she devote her time to a charity involved in helping victims and the families of victims?

 

Why don't you devote your time to charity? why are you wasting your time on the internet, go out and do some charity.

[Ohio Saint]

Seconded. It's easy to lazily conjure up images of criminals and their families living the life on reilly on the proceeds of their ill gotten gains but the reality is the vast majority of criminals especially those inside aren't well off. Moreover their kids have no choice in the matter.

 

It is also easy to imagine some kid sitting at home thinking, "Hey, my dad mugged some idiot and I got a signed Saints shirt!" Crime pays me!

[Ohio Saint]

Why don't you devote your time to charity? why are you wasting your time on the internet, go out and do some charity.

 

You know what he does with his spare time when he is away from his keyboard?

[Fan The Flames]

Families of criminals are victims too and it's been proven where family bonds are kept strong it reduces recidivism and helps keep the kids out of crime. So whose the winners then, us, so a worthwhile charity.

[saint_stevo]

maybe the club is busy with football related matters? Season tickets etc? It is more of a disgrace to be sent a pompey shirt IMO

[sad saints fan]

Just come back to p.c after a shower to discover I have started a war of words,my apologies this was not my intention. The nature of the charity involved is,I realise,not to some peoples liking.But that is surely not a matter for this site.

I will say no more on the matter .

[Elias]

You know what he does with his spare time when he is away from his keyboard?

 

Thanks for the support.

 

 

 

 

I've volunteered with local charities before, and have had some dealings with the families of offenders, quite extensive dealings.

[bowers-sfc]

one of my mates organised a charity ball for his girlfriend, who sadly died of cancer. He held an auction on the night and a signed shirt and football were donated from the club after going to reception at st marys and giving them a typed letter

[hamster]

Two of my mates who were both 'offenders' were given free saints shirts a couple of years ago. Just to show their appreciation they subsequemtly swapped them at the first opportunity....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.........one for a Swansea one the other for Plymouth.

[benjii]

So many sanctimonious tossers around.

[captainchris]

Charities in aid of criminals, is that for real.

 

Saints ain't the disgraceful ones here

 

What a shame you felt the need to post that!

[captainchris]

With all due respect, the nature of the charity is not beside the point.

 

Saints are a business with a very good history of charitable deeds. They have bent over backwards in all manner of good causes. If they choose not to support this one, then it is up to them, and there should be no cause to feel disappointed in them.

 

Whilst you are quite correct, the point surely is that a polite 'sorry we can't help on this occasion' would be respectful of the enquiry.

[saintjinksie]

I think you need to:

 

a) read the original post - the charity is for CHILDREN whose parents are inside. (the children

are not criminals and, anyway, you can be inside for many reasons: remand, a moment of

madness, a moment of carelessness etc., not all necessarily 'criminal')

 

b) grow up.

 

 

what about giving money to poor families who are law abiding?

[La BoIS Saint]

So many sanctimonious tossers around.

 

Who exactly? You get a hundred letters from different charities. Who do you support?

[Saint_clark]

Sorry, but I agree with those who say we shouldn't be supporting this charity.

The government already gives enough financial help to single parents etc.

[hamster]

Ironic that NC comes from a country where 'the family' 'looks after' thoe families who have someone banged up. Maybe NC's just waiting for the nod from Dom Perione, or whetever his name is. Just a thought.

[Ohio Saint]

Whilst you are quite correct, the point surely is that a polite 'sorry we can't help on this occasion' would be respectful of the enquiry.

 

But that was an earlier point also. This was just an email. We all have a folder full of junk mail wanting something from us. A personal letter would have most likely been received much better.

[dune]

I can think of much more deserving charities than one which supports the familys of murderers and rapists.

[Turkish]

As I said before. These kids could be seen as benefiting from the criminal actions of their parents. Not a good example, necessarily.

 

I have no dog in this fight, but I can understand why some companies might want to stay away from it.

 

to be fair its not the kids fault. But what they need is not a signed football shirt but some sort of education showing that daddies example is not one that they should follow. Charity workers in this field should devot time to this, things like getting ex-cons to run workshops telling them of the pain and suffering caused by their actions and how having a criminal record makes it a lot harder to get a decent job and despite what the press will have to believe prision is not a holiday camp, rather than running around trying to get signed football shirts.

[Quickfire Double]

OP did suggest the shirts might be for auction, hopefully to then fund some of the above...?

 

My point being simply that there doesn't appear to be enough information here to pass sensible judgement on how worthwhile or not the charity is.

[Pancake]

Anyway, to keep this on topic.

 

How about a Rule 1 on your sister?

[AussieDog]

I can think of much more deserving charities than one which supports the familys of murderers and rapists.

 

what a miserable b**t**d!

 

The families of these people have not committed any crimes and are left in the lurch through no fault of their own. Yes, there will always be a more deserving charity no doubt, but that's no reason to denigrate their suffering.