Gifts that Give Back: Our Charity Gift Guide
- December 07, 2017
Christmas is a glorious time of year for most, but in amongst all that festive fun and furore is that nagging insistent voice that it is not like that for everyone. So it feels good to give a bit back, and frankly who wouldn’t love to get a charitable gift on Christmas morning (even if some might have to squish down the inner Scrooge in that very first moment!) There are so many brilliant possible pressies to give – we wanted to highlight some of our favourites…
WaterAid: Bog in A Bag – £10
What a brilliant idea! This is all it takes to build a hygienic and life-saving loo base. You can upgrade and get the whole thing built for just of £50.
Who they are: WaterAid works in 34 countries, changing millions of lives every year with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
Oxfam: Honey Bees – £12
What a difference a bee makes. With a little support with equipment, hives and training, families can have access to a sustainable income and brighter future.
Who they are: Oxfam is a global organisation working to end the injustice of poverty, creating lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and social injustice.
Chandos House – A fresh start for Christmas – from £10
Give a man in Bristol a fresh start in life. Your gift, whatever value, will go towards giving a homeless man with a drug-dependency everything he needs to become a positive member of society.
Who they are: Chandos House is the ONLY residential addiction treatment centre in Bristol, who are attempting to fill not just a gap, but a gaping hole in services for this part of the population.
World Animal Protection – Really Wild Bear Spa Day – £12
Who doesn’t love a day at the spa? Although this may be slightly muddier and chillier than most! Bears adore playing in the water, but in captivity, they’re deprived of this natural behaviour. This gift supports the upkeep of the outdoor habitat at a Romanian sanctuary, where bears can splash and play in pools all day.
Who they are: World Animal Protection is an international charity whose vision is a world where animals live free from suffering.
CRISIS at Christmas – reserve a place for a homeless person – £26
A safe and warm place for Christmas is what everyone should be able to have, and the brilliant folk at the Crisis centres provide just that, along with many much-needed services; health and dental care, legal advice, hairdresser and massage treatments, IT support and access to the internet, all along with delicious food in good company.
Who they are: Since 1972, Crisis at Christmas has been offering food, warmth, companionship and vital services to homeless people over the Christmas period. Last year almost 4,600 homeless people visited the centres run by over 10,000 volunteers.
Refuge – Buy a festive parcel – £35
Christmas is too sparkly… said no-one ever. This festive parcel brings a bit twinkle and a lot of baubles to the communal spaces in the refuges to help residents share a bit of festive cheer, along with the support this safe place can give them. There are lots of other parcel ideas here too.
Who they are: Refuge is committed to a world where domestic violence and violence against women and girls is not tolerated, and where women and children can live in safety. Empowering women and children to rebuild their lives, free from violence and fear.
World Land Trust – Buy an acre of rainforest – £100
This gift helps create nature reserves and safeguard forest habitats for some of the most threatened animals and plants on Earth, by funding land purchase and protection in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico. An opportunity to bring out the Sting in us all.
Who they are: World Land Trust is an international conservation charity, which protects the world’s most biologically important and threatened habitats acre by acre.
Good Gift Voucher – Whatever you like!
If you just can’t decide, these gift vouchers from the Good Gift Guide are a brilliant way to let whoever gets the gift choose where the money goes; from a bike or bag of footballs to a wormery or the Whale Ambulance Service (that’s not quite A to Z but near enough!)
Who they are: The Good Gifts Catalogue is a refreshing alternative to conventional unwanted presents. Guided by two commitments that every Good Gift is wanted and that the money donated buys the actual gifts.
