Amongst the gingerbread lattes and last-minute shopping the ye olde Christmas phrase comes around again calling for ‘Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All Men’ (and women, obvs). Whilst peace on earth might be a bit of a tall order before December 25th, we can still all use the Christmas period to help make small differences to the people and world around us. Be it making a donation, becoming a volunteer or buying a charity product as a Christmas present, we can all use the festive season to make the world a better place.
Our Favourite Charities
Bloody Good Period
I first came across Bloody Good Period when I was a member of the King’s College London Women and Politics Society committee and we undertook some fundraising for them. Bloody Good Period is a fantastic charity that aims to tackle period poverty by ‘creating a sustainable flow (pun intended) of menstrual products for those who can’t afford to buy them’, particularly refugees and asylum seekers.
You can get involved by donating, fundraising and volunteering, all of which helps to provide sanitary products for those who need them most. On their website Bloody Good Period also has a shop where you can purchase a range of ‘aggressively menstrual paraphernalia’ to help fund their efforts – which make for excellent stocking fillers!
See more: Bloody Good Period
WWF
The World Wildlife Fund is the world’s leading organisation for the conservation and protection of endangered animal species. As we face an impending environmental crisis, pouring money and resources into the world’s animal species and habitats is perhaps the most important effort of the day.
There are a number of ways you can give during the Christmas season to help keep our natural world vibrant and alive for future generations. With its own Christmas Gift Guide WWF stocks a range of sustainable products from Christmas cards to tote bags and reusable cups which would make great presents for those closest to you. However, if you are on the lookout for something a little more meaningful, then adopting an animal from WWF truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Adopting an animal for someone this Christmas is a fantastic way to support the world’s most critically endangered wildlife, which from as little as £3 a month helps to create real change in the world. In keeping with the Christmassy theme, I will point out that Polar Bears, Snow Leopards and Penguins are all on the adoption list…
See more: WWF
Refuge
As a charity 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’. The work that Refuge is unsurmountable, they are the single largest provider of domestic and gender-based violence services. These services supporting over 6000 women and children on any given day.
To help support the work Refuge does you can make a single monetary donation; £10 could pay for a child’s school pack, £35 could pay for a children’s fun day and £75 could pay for a local support group. Or, alternatively, you could set up a regular gift donation from as little as £2 a month. A great idea for the Christmas period is to get your whole workplace involved, instead of gifting each other £10 worth of Secret Santa gifts why not donate the money to Refuge? (It is a better way to spend the money than on a bath set you will re-gift next year anyway).
See more: Refuge
Mind
Mental health is a complex part of life and every year one in four of us with experience a mental health problem. Mind is a charity that provides advice and support for people with mental health problems, as well as campaigning to improve services, awareness and understanding. Whilst Christmas is a time of year that people look forward to and celebrate, it is also a time of year that some people can find a bit tough. So, this Christmas Mind is an important charity to support.
Like most charities, donation online is extremely straight forward and you can make a single donation or set up regular payment, from as little as £3. Through its online shop, and high street charity shops, you can also buy Christmas cards and calendars which directly support the work Mind undertakes. These small, festive purchases will mean that the people who really need support will get it.
See more: Mind
