Thoughts on hunt fundraising..

[Starbucks]

Was talking about this with my mum/friend the other day and just wondered what other people thought.

We were saying that when fundraising (i.e. trying to blag every Tom, Dick and Harry to buy ball tickets etc.) we kind of make out it's like a charity "It's a hunt do - so for a good cause"... when in fact it's not really a charity at all.

Can only speak for the hunt I go with, they've given donations to Air Ambulance before but then we do use them occasionally so not entirely un-selfish.

So was wondering, do you think it would be more moral to give something to an unrelated charity from fundraisers, or do the odd thing not in aid of the hunt? Or do hunts need all the money they can get?

 

[A1fie]

I would always tell people what their money was for - if it was the hunt then I would say so. There are a lot of people who are anti's and whilst I obviously don't agree with their views, I respect their opinion and I would feel horrible for duping them into giving money to a cause that they do not support - the same as if I was conned into giving money to a hunt sabs fund!

Our hunt always give give some money from their fundraisers to local charities and keep some to run the hunt.

I definately think that hunts do need all the money they can get!

 

[Maesfen]

I don't see why hunt functions have to be in aid of anything other than the hunt, after all when you buy tickets for an event, or Take That, you know that usually, the proceeds aren't going to charity but if you don't agree with hunting then don't go - even if you will miss some pretty good do's!
On the other hand, if committees can afford to, I always think it helps with PR and local relations if they can donate to 'proper' charities other than just hunt funds and they certainly are appreciated. This year, our hunt supporters have donated to , in no particular order, Air Ambulance, Hope House Hospice for children, Nightingale House, another hospice; Help for Heroes and Malpas Church plus the Poppy Fund as well as putting a fair amount into the hunt kitty so we do try to spread it around too.
I do appreciate that some hunts need all the support and help they can get too in which case they shouldn't worry and when times are better (if ever) they can always share some around then whether that be to a local or national charity.

 

[A1fie]

Completely misread your post!!

Yes I think hunts should be allowed to choose what to do with the money they raise. My hunt always seems to split any money from fundraisers with local charities but if they needed to keep it all then I think they should be able to.

 

[Starbucks]

Thanks guys. I don't really feel strongly one way or the other, but I think as MFH said, it's important for PR and just, a nice thing to do really.

The lady who we were talking to is totally hard core RH supporter, but felt we should give something back. So instead of doing a hunt ride - we might organise a ride for CIN or something.

Sounds like some hunts already do this... maybe we are a bit more desperate!

 

[Maesfen]

In that case why not split the proceeds between you that way everyone is happy and sometimes that way you'll get extra help too. We sometimes find landowners prefer it to go to local causes which we're only too happy to agree to because it means we can always ask to go over them again in the future! Many big (national) charities don't seem to mean as much as local ones to farmers.

 

[L&M]

Don't forget hunts are very expensive to run and if there is a shortfall our Masters have to make up for it - I wish we could afford to give away our profits from hunt do's, but at the moment it isn't possible financially!
In an ideal world of course it is good to donate, especially something like the 'Air ambulance' , from which our sport can directly benefit from.

 

[rosie fronfelen]

we do an annual ride with a neighbouring hunt, and split the donations between the air ambulance and the 2 hunts.

 

[combat_claire]

At the first hunt supporters' committee meeting of the season we look at the books and decide how much we are going to give to our pet charity. On Friday we gave £1000 to the East Anglian Air Ambulance, a cause that is dear to all who live, work and play in rural areas.

In addition we have charity caps during the year - the Opening Meet goes to the Poppy Appeal and one in January goes to Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, we have also had collections for the Hunt Staff Benefit Society.

On New Years Day 2005 we ceased collecting for the Christmas Box and took buckets round for the Tsunami victims, protesters and supporters dug deep and raised over £1000 for the fund.

As long as hunts make it clear whether proceeds are purely for hunt funds, just a social shindig or shared with charity then that should be fine.