Taking place on the 1st December, Giving Tuesday is a global campaign to encourage everyone, everywhere to support the causes and charities that mean the most to them. It’s a day to celebrate and encourage giving in all its forms. This can be through donating, fundraising, campaigning, skill sharing – the possibilities are limitless.
Since its inception in the U.S. back in 2012, Giving Tuesday has created a wave of generosity which has now reached over 60 countries that all take part in this annual event. The UK has been an official partner of the campaign for the past six year and during this time has grown exponentially, bringing together more charities, businesses and organisations to support the simple concept driving this initiative.
2020 has been an extremely difficult year for all of us, but if there is a chance of taking something positive from it and to make a difference at the same time, we will all be better off for it. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some very worthy causes that your support would go a long way in making a difference to and to give you plenty of ways to get into the spirit of Giving Tuesday.
Wild Planet Trust
Wild Planet Trust is a registered education, scientific and conservation charity established in 1957 and based in Devon. It strives to conserve species and habitats, and to inspire and empower people to help in the fight to protect wildlife.
This dedicated charity owns two zoos, in Newquay and in Paignton, which home countless species of amazing animals and plants. The charity also has two local nature reserves and a National Nature Reserve. They are active in conservation both at home and abroad, often working alongside partner organisations to conserve species and their habitats.
How you can help:
Get involved in some wild activities
To celebrate Giving Tuesday, Paignton Zoo have planned lots of fun activities to raise awareness and much needed funds. To find out what these are please visit the Giving Tuesday page on the Paignton Zoo website here.
Shop at smile.amazon.co.uk
Did you know that you can shop on Amazon and donate to a charity at no extra cost to you? Simply click here and nominate the zoos as your chosen charity so they receive a donation each time you shop on Amazon, at no extra cost to you. *
*Both Newquay Zoo and Paignton Zoo are listed on Amazon under ‘South West Environmental Parks’, which is the name of their parent charity.
Make a donation to Paignton Zoo
- Online through their dedicated Giving Tuesday campaign page. Paignton Zoo Giving Tuesday Target is to raise £20,000 as this is how much it costs to run the zoo for a day.
- Via a super simple text donation. To donate £10, simply text PZOOGIVING to 70085. This costs £10 plus a standard rate message.
- Purchase an annual zoo pass – With an Annual Pass, you can enjoy unlimited entry to the zoo for 12 months, making it great value for money.
- Buy an animal adoption pack – If you’re looking for a thoughtful Christmas gift for someone special, this could be the perfect way to show you care and support a great cause at the sane time. Prices start from just £35 for 12 months.
- Make an animal’s day by sending a surprise from the zoo’s Amazon Wishlist. The Wishlist is filled with different enrichment devices and needed items for animals and keepers. Simply purchase an item and Amazon will deliver it directly to them.
Make a donation to Newquay Zoo
- Online through their dedicated Giving Tuesday campaign page. Newquay Zoo Giving Tuesday target is to raise is £5,000 – how much it costs just to run the zoo and look after all the animals for one day.
- By text: To donate £10, just text NZOO to 70085. This costs £10 plus a standard rate message.
- Purchase an annual pass – An Annual Pass is a great way to show your support and allows you to enjoy unlimited entry to Newquay Zoo for a whole year.
- Adopt an animal – An animal adoption pack is a great gift that keeps on giving. Prices start from just £35 for 12 months.
- Treat an animal by purchasing an item from the Newquay Zoo’s Amazon Wishlist.
WESC Foundation
Children and young adults with complex needs and visual impairment often face barriers to learning, living and taking an active, independent place in society.
WESC Foundation is an Exeter-based charity providing the specialist expertise, equipment and adapted facilities to inspire, challenge and empower these young people from across the UK to live their best lives.
But they can’t do it without the help of generous donations. Giving Tuesday is a great way for you to help them in break those barriers down. A small amount could really make a huge difference:
Bumper-dots for household appliances
Imagine if you couldn’t see the numbers on your washing machine, or the temperature on your oven. A gift of £6 could buy a pack of small plastic “bumpers” that can be stuck on the most-used setting. This tiny adjustment could help a teenager with a vision impairment live more independently after they leave WESC Foundation, all for the cost of a couple of beers.
Communication switches
Everyone at WESC Foundation has a vision impairment, but many of young people have other needs that mean they can’t always communicate for themselves.
A gift of £8 can buy a special switch that could give a child a voice. Switches can be programmed to suit the individual needs of a child and could be a simple as allowing a child to choose “yes or no” or being able to ask for their favourite food or drink for the first time.
How to donate
Donate online or text WESC 6 to 70085 to donate £6. If you’re interested in finding out more about what WESC Foundation can do then tweet @WESCfoundation or visit www.wescfoundation.ac.uk
Exeter Leukaemia Fund (Elf)
Elf is a local charity providing vital services and support to people with blood cancer and their families across Devon. Blood cancer can be a long and difficult journey. Elf gives patients a lifeline of practical services and emotional support that make a significant difference to their everyday lives.
Funds raised for Elf go towards this much needed support, including transport to and from the RD&E, counselling, accommodation for families near the hospital, specialist staff, benefits advice and befriending at home.
Elf’s services are reliable, flexible and centred on the needs of each individual patient. Your support will help vulnerable blood cancer patients and their families through this difficult winter. And with Christmas fast approaching, although looking very different this year, Elf has been creating ways you can get involved in fun festivities while supporting their important work:
Festive fundraising
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the festivities with friends, families and colleagues, why not organise a ‘Quizmas’ party, games night or Christmas Jumper Day for Elf? Dust off your festive attire, get the nibbles out and host an afternoon or evening of fun. Entertain all ages with activities such as a Christmas quiz, bingo or other party games. Set up a virtual gathering via Zoom, Facebook, Teams, Skype or Houseparty and create a fundraising page for donations.
Virtual Santa Run
Are active challenges more your thing? Don your festive finery and take on the Virtual Santa Run for Elf before Christmas. Select your own distance and run around your neighbourhood, at a local park or at home on a treadmill. Visit the dedicated Virtual Santa Run Just Giving page here for further information.
Get fit campaign
Alternatively, say jog on to January by joining Elf’s new year get fit campaign. Set your own target of miles and complete them at your convenience throughout January. Run, trek, cycle, swim, row or even walk your dog to pick off miles toward your total. Visit the dedicated ‘January, Jog On!’ fitness fundraising challenge Just Giving page here for more information.
Make a donation in the spirit of Christmas
If you’re looking for a creative, hands-on approach to fundraising then donating from the sale of goods could be for you. Bake festive treats, make Christmas crafts or have a pre-Christmas clearout and make use of those unwanted items. Sell your items directly, auction, raffle or list them on an online sales site.
There’s no reason why gift-giving can’t be virtual too. Give the gift of Elf this Christmas and send our e-cards here.
For more information about Elf, to donate, or sign up to fundraise for Elf this Christmas, email [email protected] or call 01392 493344.
St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth
St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth provides free end of life care in Plymouth, South West Devon & East Cornwall. Caring for over 3,500 patients every year at home; at Derriford Hospital & at the charity’s specialist unit in Turnchapel. St Luke’s – caring for you no matter where!
They do all they can to involve patients in decisions about their care, to maintain privacy and dignity in providing that care and to respect patients’ individual rights and religious and cultural beliefs. St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth take a holistic approach to care, centred on the needs of the individual patient.
How you can help:
Sponsor a nurse
Nurses are a fundamental part of the services that St Luke’s provide to the community, without them the care they give would simply not be possible. They use their skills to offer advice, support and compassionate care for people in an environment and situation to fit the needs of the patient and their loved ones.
Your generous gift will make a real difference to a patient’s life and will help continue the much-needed care that St Luke’s provide in the community for people with life-limiting illnesses.
Click here to sponsor a nurse.
Light up a life
St Luke’s understand the importance of community spirit to help shine a light of hope and compassion for people coping with the sadness and grief of losing a loved one. This is why St. Luke’s have planned a virtual remembrance service live from The Minister of St Andrew’s in Plymouth, as a chance to celebrate lives that have been lost and those dearly missed.
They would also warmly welcome anyone that would like to make a donation to this annual Light up a Life appeal. Donations can be made online where you can upload a photo of your loved one and dedicate a virtual bauble using St Luke’s secure online platform ‘Visufund’ – a moving tribute which can be made publicly to others or kept private for yourself.
Click here to find out more about the Light up a Life appeal and to make a donation.
Enter into the Christmas Raffle
Be in for the chance to win one of the fantastic cash prizes in St Luke’s Christmas raffle, including the top prize of £2,000!
To purchase raffle tickets online click here. Or if you’d prefer, you can pick them up in any of their charity shops. It really is as easy as that!
Host your own fundraising event
If you would like to run your own fundraising event to help raise funds for St Luke’s, they would be glad to give you everything you need to make your event a success.
Whether you’re a wizard at quizzes, a sports superstar, a host with the most, breaking records or tying the knot –you can access all manner of resources and materials to help you on your fundraising adventure. Click here to get in touch with St Luke’s and find out how they can support you to support them.
St Petrock’s Exeter Ltd.
St Petrock’s is Exeter’s charity for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. They have been working in the City for 25 years and their mission is to help people off the streets as quickly as possible into safe, affordable and appropriate accommodation. This is done through survival, welfare, mental health and housing services and through close collaboration with partner agencies and other homelessness organisations.
Because of the continuing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, many of the St Petrock’s clients require extra support in moving away from homelessness. To provide this extra help, the charity is trying to maximise their services in a Covid-secure environment, which is largely funded by the local community.
How you can help:
12 Days of Christmas campaign
Addressing homelessness involves much more than putting a roof over some’s head. By taking part in St Petrock’s ’12 days of Christmas’ challenge you can help support people on their journey towards a more settled life. Participants can either take on the 12 challenges listed in the campaign or chose which needs they might like to support with a financial donation.
To find out how to participate in the 12 days of Christmas challenge and about how to support people without a home this Christmas at visit: http://stpetrocks.org.uk/christmas2020/.
Blue Cross
Since 1897, Blue Cross has been dedicated to helping sick, injured and homeless pets find loving homes to enjoy a happier, healthier life, and are also there to provide veterinary care to owners who can’t afford private veterinary fees.
Each year they help thousands of cats, dogs, small pets and horses at their animal hospitals, clinics and rehoming services for treatment. They also have Education and Behaviour Teams to help prepare future pet owners to be responsible and look after their pets for life.
How you can help:
Step into Christmas event
Each year from the 1st December, Blue Cross run a ‘Step into Christmas’ event asking people to walk, jog or run 25k during December to support Blue Cross. You can complete the challenge on your own, with family, or with a four-legged friend by your side. Stay fit and healthy over the festive period… and help sick, injured and homeless pets.