Find something that you’d like to do that could make someone, or something, feel better this festive season, why not.
Donate a coat
WrapUp London London’s main coat donation collection will be at a few tube stations receiving donations 7-9 November, 7-11am. They seek volunteers to help at London Bridge, Waterloo, Moorgate, Liverpool St & Kings Cross. Items will be shared among charities that support the homeless, refugees, children living in poverty, and victims of domestic violence. Alternatively, see their various drop off sites running until 27 November.
National Winter Warmth Week includes a coat drop off drive at this Hampstead estate agent until 22 November.
Only A Pavement Away Winter Warmth campaign seeks volunteers to collect warm clothes and donate them to any homeless charity of your choosing 14-20 November. (Shelter, Topsfield Parade, Crouch End open hours here).
Help the homeless
Book in a social that will support a leading homeless charity venture, The House of St Barnabas in Soho. A beautiful private members’ club that employs homeless people has music, family and festive events for non-members.
Give up one hour
Volunteer an hour or more with the Trussell Trust food bank. They will be collecting donations at Tescos nationwide on 1-3 December, including their Tottenham branch.
Send gifts abroad
Fill a shoebox with gifts for children in need around the world. Add a note or family photo, print off a barcode to see where it ends up, and drop it off 14-21 November (10-12/4-6pm) at Muswell Hill Baptist Church, N10 – the Samaritans will send it on.
Love animals?
The Battersea Cats & Dogs carol concerts take place in Chelsea on Friday 2 & 9 December, with rescue dogs, the London Chamber Choir and a West End guest.
Give a kitty a purrfect Christmas from a local animal adoption centre: how cute does this little one look? Another option is, donate a micro chip online for £5.
Offer comfort
This year’s Ever After Garden is open daily from 23 November to visitors, 3-9pm. If you know someone grieving, invite them for a stroll to Belgravia’s lit up rose lights at Grosvenor Square. There, you can write a note to a loved one, donating to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Notes can also be written online and placed on a flower on your behalf. Pics here.
Distribute food waste
Approx 48 tonnes of food is wasted weekly and with escalating costs we all know this winter will be hard on some. The amazing Felix Project charity needs more drivers all over the capital to help rescue food surplus and deliver it to charities, schools and community organisations across London. Volunteer 3-5 hour driving shifts, vans provided. Info here.
Donate unwanted furniture
St Luke’s Hospice helps people in Brent and Harrow living with incurable, serious illnesses. They can collect large items for donation, book here.
Or, arrange unwanted VGC furniture collection locally, in Holloway, via the British Heart Foundation.
Swim the channel
Nuts about swimming? Think about signing up to swim the channel in a tag team of 6 (much less stress than doing the entire stretch yourself!) to raise money for the Children’s Air Ambulance. It’ll take place between 23-28 August. Joining fee is £200, with a pledge to raise £1,800. Age 12+, requires two training weekends at Dover, no wet suits, and a doctor’s signed note.
Sign a few petitions
Where to begin, really, right.
Maybe 1/2 here?
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/take-action/
https://friendsoftheearth.uk/latest/actions
https://www.change.org/p/uk-government-don-t-ignore-800-000-children-in-need-of-free-school-meals
https://www.warmthiswinter.org.uk
#christmascharity #christmaslights #carnabychristmas #oxfordstreet #workxmasdo #partywear #charityinspo #christmascharity #charitablegiving #londonchristmas