Compassion fatigue hits wish-granting charity

A CHILDREN’S charity experiencing a dramatic decline in donations fears people may be suffering from compassion fatigue.

Round Table Children’s Wish has seen a 30 per cent decline in donations and the number of participants for challenges and charity runs is also falling. Fundraising co-ordinators think people are becoming bewildered by the number of charities seeking their support.

“I’m sure that compassion fatigue plays a part in this decline as does the squeeze on people’s spending power and rising interest rates” said Julie Atherton of Round Table Children’s Wish.

“Normally when donations decline we can relate it to a disaster such as the Tsunami, when people rightly gave money for emergency aid. This year there’s nothing specific to divert cash but people just aren’t giving as much.”

Although Children’s Wish had a buoyant year in 2006, thanks in part to the one-off support from the Red Arrows display, this year’s donations are down 30 per cent. This has seen them running at a deficit each month and having to dip into reserves to ensure all wishes can be granted.

Julie added: “We know people are bombarded with requests from lots of charities but wish referrals from poorly children continue to flood in and, without support from the public, their childhood wishes may not come true. That would be devastating.”

Round Table Children’s Wish has charity places for events, such as the Women’s HydroActive 5km run in September, the Great South Run and the London Marathon. But finding enough runners to take part is proving difficult and many of those struggle to raise enough sponsorship.

To take part in an event or to make a donation contact Julie on 01202 514515.