The former Oxfam official has voiced her concerns over the damage to the charity’s grassroots.
This follows revelations of sexual misconduct by some of its staff, particularly in the wake of the Haiti earthquake.
Elisa Roche, who was the charity’s head of artist liaison from 2015 to 2016, discussed the ‘possibility that some local Oxfam stores could close’ due to the knock-on effect of these new findings.
“The allegations about Haiti are massive”
“When people see that sort of stuff in the news, it makes them think twice about whether they are going to donate their hard cash – and their old books and clothes to charity shops.
That of course that’s also going to have an effect on whether people volunteer in the shops themselves.”
“There is a possibility that some London Oxfam stores could close.”
She acknowledged this would be ‘a real shame’ as the people at the grass roots level are ‘those who really are doing good work for the charity’. But argues this could pail in comparison to a greater good.
“The sector needs shaking up in a massive way, and if blowing the lid of the whole thing is the only way to do that, then so be it.”
In light of the exposure of the behaviour of some Oxfam aid workers in Haiti, Ms Roche has actively encouraged residents of London to donate to different charities.
“Whilst working at Oxfam, I stopped giving money to Oxfam’.
“Then I resigned and I haven’t given any money to Oxfam since. I won’t again until they clean up their act and can prove to the public that the money they donate is being properly and carefully spent.”
Oxfam were approached for a comment about Ms Roche’s statements, but they declined.
What do London’s Oxfam donors think?
One of London’s many Oxfam branches
A portion of Londoners who have previously donated to Oxfam are heeding Ms Roche’s advice.
“The ethics of a charity are always going to make you think twice about giving money to them,” said one gentleman, passing an Oxfam store on Drury Lane.
Others, find that Oxfam’s role as an overall force for good outweighs the illegal actions of some of its employees.
“The revelations are really quite shocking and disturbing, but I think there’s a bigger problem going on and I’m not sure we should just be walking away from charity all together,” posited one woman, leaving the store in Islington.
“It’s such a big organisation and it does some good things. Obviously the recent headlines are in my mind but it wouldn’t stop me shopping there because it’s a good cause – even though there are some bad people there,” agreed another gentleman.
It seems, therefore, that though Oxfam’s reputation has taken a battering overseas, that its donors in London are not ready to give up on their local charity shops just yet.
Tune in to City News at 3:30pm for the full report…
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Standfirst
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HeadlineConcerns raised over future of Oxfam Charity’s London shops
Short HeadlineConcern for London's local Oxfam branches
Standfirst
An Oxfam store in Herne Hill
The former Oxfam official has voiced her concerns over the damage to the charity’s grassroots.
This follows revelations of sexual misconduct by some of its staff, particularly in the wake of the Haiti earthquake.
Elisa Roche, who was the charity’s head of artist liaison from 2015 to 2016, discussed the ‘possibility that some local Oxfam stores could close’ due to the knock-on effect of these new findings.
“The allegations about Haiti are massive”
“When people see that sort of stuff in the news, it makes them think twice about whether they are going to donate their hard cash – and their old books and clothes to charity shops.
That of course that’s also going to have an effect on whether people volunteer in the shops themselves.”
“There is a possibility that some London Oxfam stores could close.”
She acknowledged this would be ‘a real shame’ as the people at the grass roots level are ‘those who really are doing good work for the charity’. But argues this could pail in comparison to a greater good.
“The sector needs shaking up in a massive way, and if blowing the lid of the whole thing is the only way to do that, then so be it.”
In light of the exposure of the behaviour of some Oxfam aid workers in Haiti, Ms Roche has actively encouraged residents of London to donate to different charities.
“Whilst working at Oxfam, I stopped giving money to Oxfam’.
“Then I resigned and I haven’t given any money to Oxfam since. I won’t again until they clean up their act and can prove to the public that the money they donate is being properly and carefully spent.”
Oxfam were approached for a comment about Ms Roche’s statements, but they declined.
What do London’s Oxfam donors think?
One of London’s many Oxfam branches
A portion of Londoners who have previously donated to Oxfam are heeding Ms Roche’s advice.
“The ethics of a charity are always going to make you think twice about giving money to them,” said one gentleman, passing an Oxfam store on Drury Lane.
Others, find that Oxfam’s role as an overall force for good outweighs the illegal actions of some of its employees.
“The revelations are really quite shocking and disturbing, but I think there’s a bigger problem going on and I’m not sure we should just be walking away from charity all together,” posited one woman, leaving the store in Islington.
“It’s such a big organisation and it does some good things. Obviously the recent headlines are in my mind but it wouldn’t stop me shopping there because it’s a good cause – even though there are some bad people there,” agreed another gentleman.
It seems, therefore, that though Oxfam’s reputation has taken a battering overseas, that its donors in London are not ready to give up on their local charity shops just yet.
Tune in to City News at 3:30pm for the full report…
