# Real life brand credibility underpinning fundraising activity

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/11/26/real-life-brand-credibility-underpinning-fundraising-activity/
- Published: 2009-11-26T14:50:34+00:00
- Author: Kevin Baughen

For a while, I have been talking about how brand credibility not only gives charities
the right to ask for donations but also how it can protect them when things go awry.
This month I personally experienced a great example of the latter.

At London’s Victoria station there is always a different group of individuals collecting
for various charities and in early November, prime concourse space was occupied 
by this year’s [Poppy Appeal](http://www.poppy.org.uk) team. I wanted to donate 
and collect my poppy so dutifully waited in line with other commuters whilst the
team (presumably volunteers) tried to manage the human traffic as quickly as possible.

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Whilst waiting, I was a little shocked and disappointed to hear the way in which
the volunteers were speaking to the waiting donors (that’s what we were). Most of
the team were older, some wearing medals and clearly had a personal affinity with
the campaign – all of which is positive. However, they clearly were not used to 
rush hour and the bustle / crush this creates.

Donors were being ordered around, told they were stupid if they were going to attach
a poppy in a certain way, tutted at and ignored by the volunteers. I actually saw
one younger donor ‘told off’ (seriously) by a volunteer for wanting change from 
a £10 note….!

[Read more at the penguin blog](http://bottomlineideas.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!52DEF958BEBDCDE7!296.entry)…..(
a little experiment – if you really object, please let me know)

 

Kevin Baughen is the Founder of [Bottom Line Ideas](http://www.bottomlineideas.com),
a regular speaker at NFP events and a volunteer for Cancer Research UK.

 

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