Figures just in from the NSPCC charity show that from Christmas Eve 2011 to January 4th 2012 there was a 19% rise in the number of calls made to Childline compared to the previous year. Over this period almost 50,000 calls were made by children looking for support over the festive season, with a quite staggering 50% increase on Christmas Day calls compared to the previous year!

14% of all of those calls were related to family problems, though there was a dramatic 103% increase in depression and mental health related counselling required this year! The one major plus of these number increases is that it shows more and more children feel comfortable contacting the NSPCC, particularly online, where the ChildLine website increased by 57% last year.

Let’s hope this number increase is a sign of more children feeling the freedom to discuss their feelings and problems with people who understand, and truly care.

Help the NSPCC Today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endeavour to answer more calls from children who struggle to get through on their busy phone lines.

The NSPCC children’s charity are eager to raise £50million to help expand their UK services and recruit nearly two thousand volunteers. By donating to the NSPCC you can help stop atrocities happening to children.

> > Click here to make a donation to the NSPCC

Read our NSPCC review

Local NSPCC volunteer, Caroline Morgan, said -

Green Gear 2011 has been fantastic day and a great success. To see kids of all ages across Swindon wearing the NSPCC’s trademark green was very moving. It’s such a simple and fun way of fund raising and also a way of raising awareness of the charity and the work that we do.

This year’s efforts absolutely trounces last year’s efforts, with almost 3 times the participants and schools involved. A big well done from everyone at Donation4Charity to the teachers and pupils involved, and here’s to next  year being even bigger, if that’s possible!

Help the NSPCC Today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endeavour to answer more calls from children who struggle to get through on their busy phone lines.

The NSPCC children’s charity are eager to raise £50million to help expand their UK services and recruit nearly two thousand volunteers. By donating to the NSPCC you can help stop atrocities happening to children.

> > Click here to make a donation to the NSPCC

Read our NSPCC review

Not only will you receive world class training support from Olympic marathon runner Liz Yelling, but also fundraising advice, regular newsletters, and even an exclusive running vest with your name across the front. Sign up now to guarantee your place in next years event.

> > Click here to register NSPCC 2012 Brighton Marathon

Help the NSPCC today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endeavour to answer more calls from children who struggle to get through on their busy phone lines.

The NSPCC childrens charity are eager to raise £50million to help expand their UK services and recruit nearly two thousand volunteers. By donating to the NSPCC you can help stop atrocities happening to children.

> > click here to make a donation to the NSPCC

Read our NSPCC review

All the tickets will be auctioned off at NSPCC events across the country, with one set already going for £2000. I’m pretty sure I’d pay that for a date with Kylie, not so sure a concert! Kylie, who became an NSPCC ambassador in 2003, has been a strong presence within the organisation for many years, and has no other official ties with any other charity in the UK.

Kylie said -

Cruelty to children is an everyday occurrence, which must be stopped. The work undertaken by the NSPCC is essential and I fully support its mission to end child cruelty. I support its vision of a society in which all children are loved and valued. The levels of abuse in this country are shocking. Without charities like the NSPCC, they would be worse. Together, we may be able to improve the lives of children within the UK.

Help the NSPCC today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endeavour to answer more calls from children who struggle to get through on their busy phone lines.

The NSPCC childrens charity are eager to raise £50million to help expand their UK services and recruit nearly two thousand volunteers. By donating to the NSPCC you can help stop atrocities happening to children.

> > click here to make a donation to the NSPCC

Read our NSPCC review

Anyway, I digress. Now is the perfect time to be thinking of purchasing a few interesting presents for your friends and loved ones, and whether they have a beard or not, everyone deserves something a bit special at Christmas. We at Donation4Charity have a vast array of charity gift ideas that will allow you to bring something different to the table this year, as surely the thought of more socks cannot be filling anyone with the very elixir of Yuletide spirit ( though I don’t mind a pair of Pringle myself!)

A charity gift is an interesting way to show someone that not only do you care for them, but also that you care for those who are less fortunate across the world. The funds raised from your purchases help your chosen charities to provide relief to some of the world’s poorest people…

it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

We have hundreds of charity gift ideas available for your perusal, but I have personally chosen 10 of my favourite gifts to give this year (and not a stick-on beard in sight!)

• WWF Adopt an Animal
  One of the most popular charity gifts for young and old is the adopt an animal scheme from WWF. This costs as little as £3 a month and the recipient will receive a cuddly toy, certificate, greetings card and of course provide funds to help save your choice of animal’s species and habitat.
• Cows ‘n’ Things from AGE UK
  Why not purchase an online gift from Cows ‘n’ Things, the only charity focusing on the needs of older people in developing countries. Each virtual gift comes with a personalised e-card, or you could even have it delivered by post, just like they used to do in the olden days!
• Oxfam Unwrapped
  Choose from a great selection of virtual gifts this Christmas, and if you spend £5 or more before 2nd January 2011 you will receive a £5 off voucher for Pizza Express. You can’t say fairer than that, so why not grab a ‘pizza’ the action (I know, terrible!)
• Centrepoint Gifts
  This new and exciting virtual gift range helps young homeless people find their feet by providing a hot meal, shelter and education. Christmas can be a lonely and dangerous time for those living on the street, so a Centrepoint gift truly is a present that keeps on giving.
• Cancer Research Gift Shop
  This cracking online shop offers an amazing array of gift cards, wrapping and most importantly, presents, this Christmas whilst providing the funds to help Cancer Research’s life saving work. Plus you can receive 10% off all order before 31st December 2010 if you add the voucher code 10TGN0017 at the online checkout, plus free delivery on all orders over £50.
• National Trust Membership
  With the UK looking so magical during the winter months, now is a fantastic time to visit some of the National Trust’s 300 historic houses and over 600,000 acres of countryside. Great Britain has a truly unique national heritage that is unsurpassed anywhere on the planet, and the gift of a National Trust membership is the perfect present for people to explore some of the UK’s most prestigious sites. Plus if you pay by direct debit you can now receive 12 months for the price of 9. A great value gift.
• Present Aid
  These great gifts are ‘virtual’, so they make the perfect last minute present. There’s a whole host of gifts to choose from that will help people who are less fortunate than yourself. Whether it’s a goat, a meal for 80 children or just a simple football, your donation will go a long way in helping change the lives of people who are desperate need of your help.
• Sponsor a Puppy with Guide Dogs for the Blind
  From just £5 a month, you can provide a loved one with a gift that will truly help someone without sight to live a fulfilling life thanks to the aid of a guide dog. The recipient will receive a gift certificate, an exclusive calendar, plus regular updates on how their puppy is progressing during its training and subsequent initiation into a person’s life.
• RSPB Membership
  The festive season sees a wide range of colourful birds come out to play, and what better way to enjoy the British countryside than with an RSPB membership? This great gift entitles the holder free entry to over 100 RSPB nature reserves across the UK, plus a free joining gift, a quarterly magazine, plus loads of extra bits for children.
• UNICEF UK Shop
  This online gift shop has an amazing selection of presents for young and old, whether it is a babies bib, an Adidas football or a friendship bracelet. All UNICEF Gifts provide the funds to allow this amazing charity the ability to help children across the globe. Plus if you order today you can now receive ’3 for 2′ on Christmas Cards.

So there you go, those are my top ten choices of charity gifts this year available through the Donation4Charity website. Have I chosen these because I would like someone to buy them for me? Yes. Am I selfishly, sort of writing a letter to Santa in the hope he reads this via the wonderful worldwide web? Yes. Will I receive any of those gifts for Christmas? I hope so, I’ve made it pretty clear what I want!

> > Click here for other charity gift ideas

Sometimes it’s easy to turn a blind eye when you feel that it is not your place to speak up, but these are the everyday choices that we all have to make, what will yours be?

Help the NSPCC today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endeavour to answer more calls from children who struggle to get through on their busy phone lines.

The NSPCC childrens charity are eager to raise £50million to help expand their UK services and recruit nearly two thousand volunteers. By donating to the NSPCC you can help stop atrocities happening to children.

> > click here to make a donation to the NSPCC

Read our NSPCC review

The stars were out in force at Leicester Square for the premiere, with NSPCC children’s charity ambassador Kylie Minogue giving an introductory speech about the importance of the film. Alongside Kylie, Nick Moran and writer Kevin Lewis explained how the film was made and the challenges they faced in production.

Thanks to public donations, the NSPCC offer a free child helpline that is available 24 hours a day to help those who are suffering from abuse. Their experienced advisors endeavour to help every call that is made, and provide support and advice on the best course of action to take.

Help the NSPCC today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endeavour to answer more calls from children who struggle to get through on their busy phone lines.

The NSPCC children’s charity are eager to raise £50million to help expand their UK services and recruit nearly two thousand volunteers. By donating to the NSPCC you can help stop atrocities happening to children.

> > click here to make a donation to the NSPCC

Read our NSPCC review

The latest edition features four great videos, an interview with Sue Knight of the Metropolitan Police who works hand in hand with the NSPCC, plus you get the chance to meet children’s services practitioners from the new Diane Engelhardt centre in Cardiff. With more and more people using the internet to read, this decision to make the magazine available online not only helps to save on printing expenditure, but also makes the magazine more readily available.

Fundraising Manager at NSPCC, Charley Day, said -

This is not only about saving money, although clearly the more efficient we can be the better. It’s also very much about bringing to life the work the NSPCC is doing and the video content allows us to do just that. We’ve had very positive feedback from the first edition and I’m confident this latest one will be just as successful in bringing our supporters even closer to the cause and highlighting just how their donations are helping fund our work.

> > Click here to read ‘Children’s Friend’

Help the NSPCC today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endeavour to answer more calls from children who struggle to get through on their busy phone lines.

The NSPCC childrens charity are eager to raise £50million to help expand their UK services and recruit nearly two thousand volunteers. By donating to the NSPCC you can help stop atrocities happening to children.

> > click here to make a donation to the NSPCC

Read our NSPCC review

NSPCC fundraising manager, Colin Mackenzie-Blackman said

We are so proud that the NSPCC has been chosen by the cast of such an iconic show to benefit from their support. We’re hoping that the millions of viewers who watch Coronation Street every week will get behind the 50th anniversary celebrations and help raise valuable funds for the NSPCC.

All 4 great causes will benefit from a variety of activities over the coming year as Coronation Street celebrate 50 years on the TV. First up will be an auction for the bespoke ‘flying ducks’ brooch, created for The Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to the cobbles last month. A wide range of retail products will also be marketed throughout the year by ITV with added support from GMTV, This Morning and Granada Reports.

Executive Producer, Coronation Street, Kieran Roberts, said -

The 50th year of Coronation Street is a massive landmark in television history, and one that will be commemorated in many different ways, both on and off screen, throughout 2010. We’re delighted that support for local and UK-wide charities will form an important part of our anniversary commemorations, enabling us to use the programme’s profile to provide real support for good causes in Manchester and beyond.

Help the NSPCC today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endeavour to answer more calls from children who struggle to get through on their busy phone lines.

The NSPCC childrens charity are eager to raise £50million to help expand their UK services and recruit nearly two thousand volunteers. By donating to the NSPCC you can help stop atrocities happening to children.

> > click here to make a donation to the NSPCC

Read our NSPCC review

Chairman of Timpson’s Ltd, John Timpson, said -

I feel very proud that a simple ‘eureka’ moment in the middle of the night 10 years ago has resulted in such a fantastic amount of money for ChildLine. At first I wondered whether customers would resent being asked to donate a pound for jobs that we used to offer for free. However, I need not have worried; most customers were happy to make a donation. I am delighted at the success of the scheme and to be supporting ChildLine. They provide a vital service for children who sometimes have no where else to turn. I really think the Timpson initiative goes to show how small jobs can accumulate to make a big difference for charity.

These small jobs may only take minutes to complete, but in the 10 years since the initiative began, Timpson’s staff across the country have punched more than a million holes and used over 5 tonnes of glue to reach the amazing £2 million milestone. To commemorate this amazing achievement, Timpson’s last week held a special ChildLine fundraiser to encourage more customers to make a donations by offering an extra £1 to ChildLine for every £10 a customer spends.

ChildLine founder and President Esther Rantzen said -

Timpson’s £2 million achievement is quite amazing. It’s positive proof of the dedication of their staff and the generosity of their customers. On behalf of the thousands of children who have used the ChildLine service I’d like to say a huge thank you. I hope the public will support Timpson’s charity week and continue to donate through the small jobs – big difference initiative all year round. Timpson has shown just how a small gesture can help to provide a vital lifeline for abused, frightened children who have nowhere else to turn for help. I hope any other businesses out there who feel inspired by this simple idea can also do something to help children in distress or danger.

Help the NSPCC today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endeavour to answer more calls from children who struggle to get through on their busy phone lines.

The NSPCC childrens charity are eager to raise £50million to help expand their UK services and recruit nearly two thousand volunteers. By donating to the NSPCC you can help stop atrocities happening to children.

> > click here to make a donation to the NSPCC

Read our NSPCC review