Salvos doorknock donations drop nearly 20% in wake of abuse inquiry

By Helen Davidson
Guardian (UK)
May 26, 2014

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/26/salvos-doorknock-donations-drop-nearly-20-in-wake-of-abuse-inquiry

The Salvation Army’s annual doorknock appeal saw an almost 20% drop in donations this year, according to interim estimates, with potential donors citing damaging allegations about the organisation raised in the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.

The Red Shield Appeal doorknock – which sees scores of volunteers visit homes and public places across the country – raised just $4.97m on the weekend, according to the interim Sunday evening tally, well short of the $10m goal.

It was a drop of just under 20% on last year’s count, taken at the same time, of $6.17m. Previous appeals have also seen a decline year on year, but only of between 5% and 6%.

There was also a significant drop in the number of volunteer collectors signing up.

A spokesman for the Salvation Army, Bruce Harmer, told Guardian Australia there were a number of reasons for the reduced donations, not necessarily just the focus on the organisation in multiple hearings by the royal commission.

The hearings have revealed allegations of child abuse at boys’ homes run by the Salvation Army, and of serious failures to protect the children in their care or respond adequately to complaints of abuse.

There are still ongoing allegations, including of child abuse by men still within its ranks.

Numerous news reports on the disturbing events and allegations have damaged the organisation’s reputation.

Its divisional communications and fundraising secretary, Evan Cassidy, told the Melbourne Times last week that mailout donations were already being affected, with some people specifically citing the royal commission.

“There has been some bite,” he said.

That reaction appears to have been repeated in the weekend appeal.

“There have been some comments [about the royal commission] at the door,” Harmer told Guardian Australia.

“We do our very best as an organisation to equip our volunteers with material that they can give to a person at the door if they were asked some questions.”

Harmer conceded the royal commission had played a role both the drop in donations and the lower than normal number of volunteers, although it was “a bit hard to quantify just how big.”

“Whenever we do a doorknock the most critical factor every year is coverage – the number of doors we’re able to knock on – and coverage was significantly down this year,” he said.

“For a number of reasons, not necessarily the royal commission, even the fact that it’s a beautiful day. Traditionally a beautiful sunny day means that many people are not home when we knock on their door and they’re unable to contribute.”

The drop in donations will put the organisation under financial pressure, Harmer said, but won’t force the closure of any services.

“The Salvation Army is committed to the Australian public. We’ll continue our services and continue to provide them at a high level,” he said.