Sorry if we sound a bit blunt, but, do they, actually? We frequently hear versions of this argument, with people saying they have a right to go about their daily business without being approached by a ‘chugger’.
We don’t want to come across as being flippant and dismissive, but we really think the basis of this whole argument requires closer examination. Where does this ‘right’ come from?
It’s a free country and people have a right go about their business. However, no-one suggests that people have a right to walk down their high street without being approached by a paper vendor, a Big Issue seller, a market researcher or even a charity cash collector, because these people also have a right to go about their business. So why is there are perceived right not to be asked to give to charity by an F2F fundraiser?
Fundraisers have rights too. They have a right to ask for a donation. They have this right because they have a duty to their charities’ beneficiaries to ask on their behalf. And when F2F fundraisers exercise that right and approach passersby to ask them support a charity, anyone has a right to decline that request, without feeling guilty.
Of course, members of the public have a right to be approached in a courteous manner, a right not to be guilt-tripped and a right to be treated appropriately, no question. But we maintain this doesn’t extend to a right not to be even approached by a street fundraiser.