So, why do organisations like KiS need Friends, a dedicated group
of committed givers and advocates who regularly, or indeed irregularly,
hand over small and large amounts of hard-earned cash?
Without its Friends, KiS may not have survived
its first decade and its first seven years as a registered charity. The money itself
provides security, it signals commitment, interest, support and, actually,
care. It requires a genuine act of motivation and regard to take the
steps necessary to become a Friend of any organisation.
Friends that come on board are activating their
belief in what the organisation is doing, or could do in the future. When service users
become Friends, even more importantly, they are saying : 'I liked
what you did, and now I want to give back'.
The income generated from Friends is the money that sees good practice
happen, that means new ideas are possible, planned and researched,
that can even mean appropriate time is given to making sure the
organisation operates within the law.
Friends enable spontaneity, creativity
and security.