It is a fact, unfortunately, that it is easier to get further money from somebody who has already donated than to find new donors.

Hence many charities feel it a good idea to bug people who have given in the past. I note that the direct debits I have set up for some charities might just cover the cost of the continuous mailshots I get from them, normally very glossy, professionally produced and usually heart tugging.

Despite the sterling work Christian Aid must do, I am never minded to give to a charity that has a particular flavour of religion attached to it. Their work has an undercurrent of missionary about it. I recall a photograph a friend took when doing some work for WHO in Namibia. A village that had two charities working on building up the infrastructure. At the time of the photo, the makeshift church and the makeshift mosque were well underway, although the water pump had yet to be drilled, the medical centre was staked out but not built yet and the village was being split in two on faith lines.

A pity, as in line with many other aid organisations, many faith based charities can and indeed do some sterling work.