insideKENT Magazine Issue 32 - November 2014 | Page 163

CHARITY

‘TIS THE
SEASON FOR

giving

FROM CAKE BAKING TO CLEARING OUT YOUR WARDROBE, HERE ARE OUR
TOP 10 FAVOURITE WAYS TO GIVE BACK THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
1. Donate clothes to a charity shop
We all have an odd shirt or 10 that we could
stand to get rid of. We know, it’s hard to get rid
of things, especially when it’s your favourite pair
of trousers that you just know you’ll fit into again
someday. This Christmas, why not have a true
clearout (yes, even those trousers) and donate
your lovely things to a local charity shop?

4. Clear out your kids’ rooms
and give to charity
Most of our kids have too much ‘stuff’ (kind of
like us grown-ups). Set aside an afternoon with
your children for a pre-Christmas clearout; it’s
a great way to spend some quality time with
your kids, and also teach them about the beauty
of giving.

2. Give your time to volunteer
There are over 180,000 registered charities in
the UK, and almost 30,000 in the South East.
With so many amazing causes to get involved
in, from cancer research to animal welfare to
military support, browse through
www.charitychoice.co.uk to find one close to
your heart.

5. Send a personalised letter
from Santa for charity
For a suggested donation of just £5, you can
send a child a magical letter from Santa, and
support the NSPCC along the way.
www.christmas.nspcc.org.uk

3. Buy at charity shops
From vintage tea sets to children’s books, charity
shops are a great place to explore for clothes,
homewares and unique, interesting finds. They’re
also one of the best places to find a fabulous
collection of Christmas cards!

6. Give blood
Though we’ve all heard the statement before,
just let this one sink in: giving blood could save
a life. That’s pretty amazing, considering all it
takes is about an hour or so of your time three
times a year. Find out more at www.blood.co.uk.
7. Donate your old computer
Thinking of buying yourself a shiny new MacBook
Air for Christmas? Donate your old (good
condition) laptop or computer to
www.computersforcharities.org – a charity that
provides computers and support to benefit
numerous projects and organisations across the
UK and 106 countries worldwide.

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8. Sign up for a fundraiser
Run a marathon, grow a handlebar moustache,
throw a party or climb a mountain – the
opportunities for fundraising are endless. Most
charities coordinate their own fundraising events,
or you can think outside the box to come up
with your own idea.
9. Sell on eBay for charity
Over here at insideKENT, we think eBay is the
greatest invention since sliced bread – especially
because you can sell your stuff for charity. When
you list your items for sale, all you have to do is
select the charity option, choose a charity to
support and decide on the percentage of the
selling price that you’d like to donate.
10. Christmas bake or craft sale
Whether you enjoy cake-baking, needlecraft or
painting, use your crafty skills to raise funds for
your chosen charity this Christmas. Sign up for
a farmers’ market or sell your handiwork to your
family and friends, and donate your profits to
your favourite charity.