Pay packets of £100,000-plus a year for UK charity bosses have been branded a disgrace by South Holland residents who say donated cash should go to good causes.
Thirty bosses at 14 charities making up the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) earned more than £100k last year – and the biggest payout, £184,000, went to British Red Cross chief Sir Nick Young.
Two Save the Children executives took over £160,000.
Charity Commission chairman William Shawcross is urging charities to be cautious, saying: “Trustees should consider whether very high salaries are really appropriate and fair to both the donors and taxpayers who fund charities.”
But the DEC says pay is “broadly in line” with other charities and cash spent on management of disaster responses is capped at seven per cent.
A spokesman said: “A balance must be struck between minimising overheads and ensuring a robust management system is in place.”
But Sue White, from Pinchbeck, said: “I think it’s disgraceful. The money should not be going to the big bosses. They certainly don’t deserve all that money.
“I don’t think we should be sending money anyway – it should be clothes, food, seeds and tools.”
Edward Cook, from Spalding, said: “They are not worth the money they are paid and the money should go to the people they are running the charity for.”
Sam Watson is considering becoming an unpaid volunteer at a Spalding charity shop and says news on the whopping pay packets means she will look for “a more meaningful charity that doesn’t pay the bosses that much”.
Angie Nunn, who lives in Moulton, described the big payouts as “scandalous”.
She said: “It’s disgusting, really. What are they going to do with all that?”
Michael Hoadley, from Whaplode, said: “I am not in the least bit surprised. It’s something I worry about because I do believe in giving money to charity.”
Peter Bettles, who lives in Gosberton, said: “It seems to be a bit far fetched. These things get wafted around by people who don’t want to give to charities.”