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In this lesson we will be exploring how charities have supported people through difficult times.

CHARITABLE GIVING through HISTORY

The word Charity comes from the Latin word Caritas meaning loving kindness through giving.

In Ancient Greece beggars were accepted as an inevitable nuisance. As part of their dress they wore scrips (wallets) in which they carried away the food they received.
Because of its shape, this Ancient Greek drinking vessel could not be set down until it had been drained of its contents.

Later, in Ancient Rome, the poor carried away portions of food in sporlula (baskets) from their patrons dinner.

Wealthy Romans tried to serve food that was unusual, for example peacock tongues. Recipes might involve stuffing a chicken inside a duck, then the duck inside a goose, then the goose inside a pig, then the pig inside a cow, and cooking the whole thing together.

The first charities in Britain were set up nearly nine hundred years ago. In 1136 Bishop Henry de Blois, a grandson of William the Conqueror, established the Hospital of St Cross in Winchester. The hospital still looks after old people and provides bread and beer to anyone who asks for it.

But until the 16th century, most help for the poor and needy was provided by the church.

That was until Henry VIII decided to get rid of the monasteries, when he broke away from the Catholic Church of Rome.

In 1834 the Poor Law made it compulsory for every large village or town to establish workhouses for the needy.

However, the conditions in the workhouses were deliberately harsh to discourage people from using them.

Sometimes there was a sign over the door saying:

Abandon hope all ye who enter here!

Once inside the workhouse, the only things that you could call your own were your uniform and a bed in a large dormitory. Beds were usually only two feet wide, and often children had to share.

Perhaps you know the story of Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens?

Up until the nineteenth century charities were mostly established when rich merchants left money in their wills, often hoping that it would ensure a safe passage to heaven after their death!
They often chose for their money to go towards building an almshouse which housed the elderly poor.

Most towns had at least one almshouse. The name or crest of the family which had provided the money for it was often prominently displayed.

At this time many schools were built as a result of charitable bequests (donations made in wills). However the priority was discipline through religious instruction, rather than a high level of learning.

It is not proposed that the children of the poor be educated in an expensive manner, or even taught to write and cypher"
wrote parliamentarian Andrew Bell.

There is a risk of elevation them from the drudgery of daily labor above the conditions, and thereby render them discontented and unhappy in their lot. . .
What did he mean ..?

During the 19th Century charity work was a rare way for middle-class women to undertake useful and challenging work. It gave them selfconfidence and a feeling of achievement at a time when opportunities for women to make any real contribution to society were limited.

However, many people thought the poor were responsible for their plight. They blamed them for drinking too much beer, being wasteful, and not going to church. They ignored the real reasons which were unemployment and low wages.

In the 20th Century disaster funds were sometimes opened to help widows and survivors of mining and shipping accidents.

The Titanic Fund (1912) raised over 100,000 (equivalent of 10m today) in a few weeks.

By the end of the First World War it had been agreed that the government should play a greater role in helping the poor, including clearing the slums and paying a pension to all old people.
From January 1st 1909 anyone over 70 was entitled to a weekly pension of between 10p and 25p a week.

What is the basic state pension now?

Before the second world war poor people often went without medical treatment, relying instead on sometimes dangerous home remedies.

However, on the 5th July 1948 the National Health Service was set up to provide health care for all based on the level of need, not on the ability to pay.

However, there are still many people and organisations in need of support. At the end of 2009 there were 160,515 charities registered in Britain. Together they raised nearly 52 billion.

The money was raised through: o o o o Fundraising Donations Legacies The lottery

Some charities also receive grants from the government.

TV reports and events like Live Aid have made people aware of international causes, which together receive more money than any other category of charity.

Glossary
bequest a gift legacy a donation made in a will plight difficulty, troubles contribution a payment towards something equivalent equal to slum an area with poor housing pension money paid to people who have retired from work. remedy a cure, answer, solution category a group or type

Activities to complete this lesson include:

facts and figures on charitable giving Hot Seating activity class vote using the Ballot Box
Rate this lesson here.

Click on the image above to view and/or download learning activities.

If you enjoyed this lesson, why not try:

You Can't Buy Anything with a Penny!

Case studies of children who have initiated successful fundraising campaigns. How to start your own fundraising initiative.

Famous Philanthropists
Past and present

Famous Philanthropists
How some successful business people have donated large sums of money to particular causes. What are the things that enrich/impoverish our lives?

Useful Web Links

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/ - Interactive games and lessons about life under the Romans
http://www.stcrosshospital.co.uk/ - the history of the hospital of St Cross in Winchester http://www.almshouses.org information and background of almshouses in the U.K http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/henry_viii_king.shtml information about Henry VIII http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/victorians/- Play hopscotch, join a class, go up a chimney : find out what life was like for children in Victorian Britain

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/resourcematerial s/charities/ - comprehensive links to a range of national and international charities providing educational materials

More Useful Web Links

www.g-nation.co.uk an interactive sites for 11-16 year olds and teachers packed with information on how charities work, fundraising, volunteering and campaigning tips and a charities database http://www.idealist.org/kt/index.html -and now its your turn! A site dedicated to children taking action sharing tips and showcasing children who have set up their own charitable organisations http://www.guidestar.org.uk/ - every thing you need to know about charities in the U.K , a huge national database listing from the largest national charity to the thousands of small charities that are active in every community. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4710000/newsid_471030 0/4710352.stm - What is charity? Where does the money go? Who starts a charity? Vital stats, information and answers to those frequently asked questions.