I am always astounded at how much 'charity' and 'volunteering' goes on in England. Most of these charities pay large salaries to their top tier staff. Is it an acceptable way of grifting? Getting people volunteering under the auspice of charity. I just don't get the concept of all these charities in such a 'first world/rich' country.
Because the government won't give any subsidies for most of the work the charities cover and they have to rely on fundraising and donations and volunteers.
I absolutely agree with your point re the large salaries the top tier staff get . It's the same with large companies isn't it though ? I guess to attract top managers you have to pay top wages? It depends on your level of responsibility like any other organisation. They do seem to get over inflated salaries though.
One of my sons is a fundraiser. He worked for various charities ,but he didn't get the high salaries . He now fundraises for an educational institution and his talents are rewarded with better pay.
In defence of volunteering it is something that a lot of English people do when they retire, as who wants to just sit at home doing nothing?. I used to work in the mental health services and many of our clients, during recovery, used to get voluntary jobs to get them used to returning to the work setting. Other people who perhaps have no family, volunteer to meet people. Students do voluntary work to learn skills. Many small niche charities, that would not qualify for government funding, do amazing work such as Bat rescue, hedgehog hospitals, donkey sanctuaries. We have volunteer hospital visitors, pet therapy in hospitals. Our churches do a lot to welcome asylum seekers. Money isn't always everything. If we all sat back and expected pay for doing something for our communities, the world would be a poorer place in my opinion .
My grandmother made me laugh. She used to volunteer with a charity where she befriended a couple of elderly people, doing their shopping, chatting to them every day, a friendly face, that sort of thing. She told me how sorry she felt for "these poor old folk". She was at the time 92 years old. The poor "old dears" were in their 80s.