Make life better

Charity fundraisers, information on volunteering, and news of things you can do to help make life better for others

Sponsor a girl

 

If you are thinking about helping a child in a developing country, Plan UK urge you to consider sponsoring a girl. The charity has just launched its Christmas campaign Girls Without Voices, focused on raising awareness of the discrimination girls face in the developing world when it comes to their education.

An extra year of education can increase a girls earning capacity by 10 - 20% per annum. Plan has also revealed that in Kenya alone, £2 billion could be added to the economy if the country educated its girls to secondary school level. 

 

As part of the wider Because I am a Girl initiative, Plan is now calling for a global 10-point action plan which includes providing girls with a full education, better jobs, access to property and leadership opportunities.

 

To sponsor a girl with Plan and help break the cycle of poverty visit  www.girlswithoutvoices.org

 

Buy a beautiful Christmas decoration for charity

 

This Christmas Swarovski is producing a crystal snowflake ornament to help raise funds for UNICEF; 40% of the retail price will go to the charity. The funds will provide families with water containers that allow them to store water safely and save journeys to and from the water pump.

The crystal snowflake costs £95 and is on sale at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED^TM London, 24 Great Marlborough Street, and in Knightsbridge at Harvey Nichols, www.harveynichols.com, and Harrods, www.harrods.com

 

Support Movember

 

Encourage a man you know to sign up for a Movember fundraiser - where men all over the world unite in growing a ‘mo-ustache' to help raise funds for and awareness of men's health issues, specifically prostate cancer. Supported by their Mo Sistas, Mo Bros spend the month of ‘Movember' growing their fine whiskers; last year over £14 million was raised over the course of the month.

 

Visit the website to sign up, donate and get more information

 

 

Run the London Marathon for CLIC Sargent

 

Places have now been allocated for the 2010 Virgin London Marathon and if you've been lucky enough to be selected (this year the 120,000 ballot entry filled up quicker than ever), perhaps you would consider running for the official marathon charity CLIC Sargent.

 

Every day 10 children are diagnosed with cancer and CLIC Sargent do invaluable work to support these children and their families. The charity is currently only able to help two in every three children diagnosed, so it is hoping that many people in next year's marathon will run for CLIC Sargent and raise money for the charity.

 

If you have a place for the marathon and would be interested in running for CLIC Sargent go to www.runfornurses.com. The charity provides specialist children's cancer nurses who are a continual support for the child and their family from diagnosis. You could even run dressed as a nurse!

 

Also CLIC Sargent has launched the first episode of its webumentary which follows the progress of 17 year old Olivia who suffers from cancer. To watch the first episode of Ollie's webumentary visit www.clicsargent.org.uk/olliesstory.

 

Crisis Christmas

 

Christmas is a time when many people naturally think of volunteering. Crisis Christmas takes place between December 23 and 30, when guests are offered companionship and support to alleviate loneliness and isolation and help them take their first steps out of homelessness. Almost 2,000 guests are catered for in nine centres across London.  And residential centres provide accommodation for rough sleepers, and people with specific needs such as women and those with dependency issues.

 

The charity relies on thousands of volunteers who give up their holiday season to help others - with over 8000 volunteers, Crisis Christmas is the largest volunteer led event in the UK. Specialists in various areas are particularly in demand, for example catering, podiatry, massage, natural healing, dentistry, advice, legal, befriending (including counsellors & therapists), opticians, hairdressing & manicurists, dog handlers, healthcare, sewing & clothing distribution.

 

Find out more at the website - www.crisis.org.uk

 

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Good things to do

 

Sign up for the Prima trek to raise money for breast cancer

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