Archive for the ‘Donation4Charity’ Category

UK band Coldplay added some much needed weight behind the British Red Cross‘ Chile Earthquake Appeal on the 2nd March 2010. In these days of fast technology, it’s become easier and easier to reach huge audiences with nothing more than a few words, and this is what they did when they sent a tweet out to their fans.

Coldplay currently have 2.5million people following them on Twitter, and within minutes of dropping their tweet, literally thousands of their fans flocked to British Red Cross website wanting to donate to the Chile Earthquake Appeal.

Coldplay tweeted -

Two million people have been affected by the earthquake in Chile – donate towards the Red Cross’s relief work at http://bit.ly/chilerc

This small nugget of information flew round the world so quickly that it led to a huge spike in traffic for the Earthquake Appeal, leading to a 400% increase in hits in just 15 minutes!

Coldplay, who are currently touring in South America and were recently performing in Sao Paulo, Brazil, said -

the band have been extremely saddened by reports of the terrible earthquake which hit the country on 27 February 2010.

As you can see, the power of twittering is a worldwide phenomenon that is an excellent way to reach millions of people at the touch of a button. Many of the charities we feature on D4C have Twitter feeds, (as do we) so if you’d like to find out more click on the links below to view our extensive charity Twitter list and also to follow our charity blog and keep up to date with all the latest news, reviews and views.

> > Click here to follow the D4C blog tweets

> > Click here for the D4C Twitter Directory

The British Red Cross has immediately transferred £50,000 from their Disaster Fund to their counterparts in Chile following the initial earthquake. This was no mere tremor, measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale with over 120 aftershocks. Aerial assessments of the overall damage are taking place, with public service announcements being provided on how to react to aftershocks and appealing to the public to donate blood.

If you would like to make a donation to the British Red Cross Chile Earthquake Appeal, please click on the link below.

> > Click here to make a donation to the Chile Earthquake Appeal

The British Red Cross charity is organising another Disaster Response Challenge, where people from across the country will take part in a hypothetical disaster that unfolds in real time to test calmness under pressure. The 2 day event will offer the unique opportunity to experience first hand the issues and decisions faced by the British Red Cross international emergency response unit (ERU).

The ERU’s role is to respond to any humanitarian disaster, anywhere in the world, at really short short notice. This challenge will show the competitors what it’s like to be in the immediate aftermath of a major disaster scene. The experience is organised by delegates with years of experience on the front line, something only a handful of people will get to see in a lifetime.

This event will take part on the weekend of 26-28th March 2010 with a registration fee of £50.If you would like to find out more about this event or are interested in working in this field, simply click on the link below for further information.

> > Click here for more information on the Disaster Response Challenge

> > Click here to make a donation to the British Red Cross

The NSPCC charity is over the moon, thanks to some 250 runners who scaled St. Mary Axe to help raise funds for NSPCC by Climbing the Gherkin. All of the competitors had to race up the 1,037 steps over 38 floors,  inside one of London’s most iconic buildings dressed in anything from running shorts to jeans.

The 180 metre climb certainly took it’s toll on some people, with several participants clinging to the handrail for dear life! The event organisers were hoping to raise £125,000 for the NSPCC’s Child’s Voice Appeal, not to mention test their endurance skills in this unusual charity race. On finishing, competitors were handed a celebratory drink and a medal, plus the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of London the Gherkin provides.

NSPCC spokesperson, Colman Cawe, said -

I’m extremely proud of how successful this event has been. Its popularity has been greatly down to the exclusive access we can provide to the Gherkin, which is thanks to the NSPCC London Business Group. I’d also like to thank everyone who will be taking part on the day; the money raised will be going towards our Child’s Voice Appeal, which exists to maintain and grow the NSPCC’s helplines.

Help the NSPCC today

The NSPCC help thousands of children each year, and with your donations they can endevour 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

Over the next three weeks, Save Our Friends will be giving away one of their loveable toys every Friday, and you can enter absolutely FREE! Simply become a fan of the Facebook page and post on their wall to let them know that you’re a new fan, and that’s it, you’re in with a chance! Existing fans can also enter by referring their friends to the group, all they do is then post on the fanwall to say who referred them.

Save Our Friends ethical range of toys are by ‘fur and away’ the cutest charity gift you can buy for your family and friends. These little bundles of joy are a fantastic way to show how much you care about the plight of endangered animals across the world, and with twenty to choose from, there’s sure to be one to suit all tastes.

Every ‘toy with a conscience’ sold makes a donation to one of Save Our friends wildlife charities – Born Free Foundation, Marine Conservation Society and World Land Trust. Whether they be  furry, feathery or finned, Save Our Friends believe that every animal on the planet deserves a life, and with so many of our beloved species struggling to survive in today’s troubled eco system, now is the time to make a difference.

This selection of luxury soft toys are designed to help raise awareness and funds for the plight of critically endangered species that live in the world’s most threatened habitats. Every toy is presented in beautiful recycled packaging, with facts on the animals conservation status and factual information about their chosen charity gift.

So why not join the Save Our Friends Facebook group and stand a chance of winning a gorgeous toy. Up for grabs this week is our Bottlenose Dolphin!

> > Click here to join the Save Our Friends Facebook Group

Other top charity gifts

Love is in the air, and Cupid is readying her bow and arrow to bestow love on the people of the Earth as only she knows how…

not sure if all that is strictly true, but Valentine’s Day is certainly just round the corner! So, if you’re in the mood this year and want to show that special someone in your life that you care, why not treat them to as interesting charity gift from the Cancer Research UK Shop?

When you shop online with Cancer Research UK, you can be sure that 100% of the profits go towards their lifesaving work. This year there’s loads to choose from, with a wide range of quirky gifts for both him and her to melt even the coldest of hearts! Choose from -

• Silver Love Hearts
• Heart Shaped Frying Pan
• Million Kisses Mug
• Love Heart Lights
• ‘I love you’ Toast Stamp
• Love Heart Hot water Bottle
• And Many More…

Personally, the heart shaped frying pan would be a winner in my house! Cancer Research UK has also teamed up with Arena Flowers, the UK’s leading ethically sourced online florist, to allow you to send a luxury bouquet or a heart shaped balloon to your Valentine with 20% of every order being donated to the health charity.

Cancer Research UK’s trading director, Simon Ledsham -

We’re delighted to be working with Arena Flowers.  Not only will you be giving beautiful flowers with each purchase, but you will be helping us to beat cancer at the same time.  Thank you for your support.

> > Click here to order online at the Cancer Research UK Shop

Other top charity gifts

The NSPCC charity will be hoping that 2010 is their biggest and best year yet at the London Marathon, held this year on Sunday 25th April. Over 600 supporters will be jogging, walking and running in the world’s biggest marathon to help raise money for the NSPCC.

This year the NSPCC aim to raise over £900,000, and you could help by getting in on the action! By joining the NSPCC ‘teamGO’, you will be able to not only help raise funds for the worthwhile childrens charity, but also receive -

• Advice from a dedicated running events team
• An online and offline fundraising pack full of hints and tips
• Expert training advice from Olympic runner Liz Yelling and her team
• Exclusive NSPCC running vest for you to wear
• Post-race reception dedicated to NSPCC runners

So why not start take the plunge and start training today, it’s a fantastic way to get fit and also a great way to help raise funds for the NSPCC. For information on this event click below or call 020 7825 2621.

> > Click here to join ‘teamGo’ online today

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

Oxfam UK will dispatching a six strong team of emergency specialists to Haiti to help bolster the charity’s response to the devastating earthquake that struck the country on Tuesday. Below is a blow by blow account at frontline from Cedric Perus, Oxfam’s humanitarian coordinator in Port au Prince -

> > Click here to donate to Oxfam Haiti Appeal

I have seen wounded people flooding into the hospitals and buildings of several stories high that are now totally flat. Several thousands have probably died in the quake, but it will it will take time to get a full picture.  Bodies may stay under the rubble for a long time because it is difficult to access some sites and heavy lifting equipment is in limited supply.

There are bodies all over the city. People have nowhere to put them so they wrap them in sheets and cardboards in the hope that the authorities will pick them. People have also piled bodies in front of the city’s main hospitals.

Oxfam’s teams have now started to assess the scale of the disaster, across the different parts of Port au Prince, as some have been more severely affected than others.  The epicentre was near the slum of Carrefour, where people were living in flimsy shacks. There are reports that over 90% of its buildings are in ruins.

Our immediate priorities will be providing safe water and shelter material for the people who have lost their homes. Many people have lost their homes and were sleeping out in the open last night.

There has been no rain yet, but there was rain earlier in the week and if it comes again it will make the situation much worse for all those made homeless by this quake. It is dangerous at night. Lootings were widespread and some markets were ransacked.

Oxfam UK is now preparing stocks to send to Haiti to help provide adequate materials such as plastic sheeting and water purification to aid the lives of those caught up in the devastation. With communications down and roads, schools and hospitals collapsed, millions of people’s lives have been destroyed since the 7.0 magnitude quake.

> > Click here to donate to Oxfam Haiti Appeal online

Vodafone Foundation has now found the 500 young people from across the country to take part in their World of Difference UK Programme. Over 1100 applied for placements, with the winners spending two months working for a charity of their choice.

The programme gives people from across the UK the opportunity to work for a charity they are passionate about.  The Vodafone Foundation will pay each charity a total £2,500 of which the winners gets the balance once tax and National Insurance has been paid. In addition, Vodafone UK will donate a new mobile phone with pre-paid credit so that winners can capture their experiences and share them on vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference to inspire others.

The programme was open to anyone over 18 in the UK who had the passion, drive and commitment to donate themselves to a charity. Taking part involved finding the right charity to suit their interests, skills and experience.

Director of the Vodafone Foundation, Andrew Dunnett, said -

We are delighted with the response we have had in the first year of this exciting new phase of the World of Difference programme. We hope that the World of Difference UK programme will help more people to make a contribution to local communities, from veteran volunteers to first-timers.  World of Difference offers an ideal opportunity to help others while gaining valuable life and work experience.

> > Click here for more information on World of Difference

Join the World of Difference Facebook page

With just three days until Christmas, why not let Concern Worldwide take the stress and strain out of finding that perfect last-minute gift. Their range of fun and quirky yet life-saving ethical gifts has something for every taste and budget. Plus, as their online gift shop is open 24 hours a day, up to and including Christmas Day, you don’t even need to leave home!

Whatever your loved one is interested in, Concern has the perfect gift:

• A goat for £25 is the ideal gift for anyone who loves animals and for a family in Angola could provide gallons of health-giving milk as well as manure to fertilise their crops.
• Emergency food supplies for £48 would go down a treat with budding chefs and could help feed people left with nothing following a natural disaster such as an earthquake or tsunami.
• Birth Attendant training at £83 is a must-have for new mothers and could make all the difference to an expectant mother in Sierra Leone, where few women can afford modern ante-natal clinics.

Plus every charity gift you buy comes with an e-card that you can send directly to the recipient, saving you time and postage!

Each and every gift you buy will be translated into real and lasting help for someone living in extreme poverty. With projects in 28 of the world’s poorest countries and over forty years experience of helping people, you can be sure that Concern will use your gift where it’s most needed.

So why not do something really special this Christmas and give a Concern Gift.

> > Click here to order online with Concern Worldwide

Other top charity gifts

Fame at Last!

Finally, my tireless and selfless charity work (which I obviously don’t like to talk about!) has been recognised and finally rewarded with the soapbox it deserves. No more blog copy for me, no, I’ve hit the big time…

well, sort of anyway!

I was very kindly approached by Holly Black for an interview on her drive time show for Link FM based in East London. The interview was for me to explain how my charity work has changed the lives of so many people and to answer the burning question of how one man can take on the world’s burdens and emerge victorious….

I wish!

It was actually to explain about what a charity gift is and how it can be an unexpected and unusual present for a loved one. Charity gifts come in all shapes and sizes and are also a really easy way to send a last minute gift to someone.

The interview also showed that under my cool, calm exterior lies the heart and mind of a stuttering, blathering idiot, who when put on the spot will talk at 100mph and repeat the same anecdotes over and over again!

So why not have a listen to the explanation of ‘the gift that keeps on giving’  by the ‘talker who want stop talking’? I won’t listen to it again as even though my dulcet tones have been compared on numerous occasions to Zippy from Rainbow,  to me it sounds like nails being scratched down a blackboard.

Everyone in the office seemed to really enjoyed it though, so why not have a listen and learn about the true sound of nervous paranoia. Merry Christmas!

> > Click here to listen to the Donation4Charity radio interview

Top charity gifts