Médecins Sans Frontières

I must declare an interest. I work for Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins Sans Frontieres. This office is much better than their old place, a few hundred metres to the east. Open plan, with glassed in quiet areas for interviews, etc.

As if I'm gonna slag off msf

It's in the underground, both UK and mansion unit at the same place

Lovely building and area

Went for Educational course. Became fan of incredible work they do. Looking forward to learn from them.

There is none so unethical as a charity!

Six months ago, I responded to a Television Appeal and made a donation to Medecins Sans Frontieres in the UK. I was appalled at the highly presumptuous way in which their website required me to opt in to the processing of my personal data in a way in which I would not reasonably expect when donating to a Charity with the convenient rider, "you can opt out later." I should not have to do anything to give money to a Charity.

I telephoned Medecins Sans Frontieres and made a donation over the telephone on the strict understanding that I would receive no begging letters requesting further money, nor any written material by email or postal transmission purporting to inform me about their work with the intention of securing more money , nor any correspondence of any description. The Charity accepted my donation on this basis.

Imagine my fury when I received a begging letter a few days ago. I telephoned the Charity and a woman in Supporter Services told me the letter should not have been sent. I requested a written explanation as to how this so called "error" occurred together with details of what the Charity is doing to obviate a repetition of this situation. When Medecins Sans Frontieres failed to address, in writing, its flagrant breach of the First and Third Principles of Schedule II in the Data Protection Act 1998, I telephoned and asked to speak to the Chief Executive or her Secretary. No one was available and I did not get past the telephonist.

Every Charity that I have supported has always seen fit to push the boundaries by sending begging letters with emotional overtones to solicit further donations when I have expressly forbidden it.

Medecins Sans Frontieres does not need my money if it can afford to send out expensive communications in the way that it does. I suppose their Bureaucrats need to extend the scope of their bureaux to justify their salaries.

Good