After another tumultuous year for the charity sector, support from other sectors has become all the more important.
Research found that a typical charity lost 15% of its income in the last 18 months, and at least a quarter of charities lost more than 40%. Funding and support from large retailers, supermarkets and media outlets can really boost a charity which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
That's why we've comprised a list of which charities have got Christmas partnerships this year.
Retailers
Just Eat for Social Bite and FoodCycle
Just Eat’s Christmas Meal Appeal has returned this Christmas. Last year, the campaign provided 100,000 meals to those in need and provided funds to projects aiming to resolve poverty and homelessness.
Dame Helen Mirren helped to announce Just Eat’s the return of the campaign this year, which is aiming to provide at least 200,000 meals for the homeless, vulnerable and lonely this Christmas. Just Eat is working in partnership with the food poverty charities Social Bite and Food Cycle.
The food delivery app is encouraging the public to donate when they order a takeaway from Just Eat and will match their donation.
CitySprint partners with The Trussell Trust
CitySprint, the UK’s largest same day distribution company, has partnered with food bank charity The Trussell Trust this Christmas. CitySprint will begin donating £20,000 per year to the anti-poverty charity.
CitySprint employees who donate a day of their time to volunteering with or fundraising for the Trussell Trust, Crisis or any other local charity will also receive an extra day of holiday.
Red Letter Days and Children Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
The gift experience provider Red Letter Days is donating 10% of its sales from its Merry Christmas Gift Box to CPAG this Christmas. The sales will be collected from 15 November – 25 December 2021. Priced at £49.99, £4.99 of each sale will go to the anti-poverty charity.
Merry Christmas Gift Box has 2,625 experiences to choose from, with options like zip lining, gin master classes and afternoon tea.
Supermarkets
John Lewis and Waitrose partner with FareShare and Home-Start UK
For the third year running, John Lewis and Waitrose have joined forces on the Give a Little Love campaign this Christmas. This year, the campaign raises funds for two charities: Home-Start UK, which helps support parents, and FareShare which helps people facing food poverty.
John Lewis and Waitrose will be donating £1m to the charities and other local community causes. The supermarkets are encouraging individuals to donate to the Give A Little Love campaign. The companies are also selling a limited edition Give A Little Love campaign Christmas jumper to raise money too. 10% of the profits from the jumper will go to the campaign.
Co-op partners with Hubbub
Co-op has joined forces with the environmental charity Hubbub Foundation UK to support its Community Fridge Network. To prevent food waste, members of the public are encouraged to bring food to their local Community Fridge (which would be a local space, such as a village hall).
Anyone is welcome to attend, donate food to the cause, or cook their own meal their and eat it while socialising with members of the community. The Co-op is funding 250 Community Fridges across the UK.
Co-op has also replaced its usual Christmas advert with an endorsement of Hubbub’s Community Fridge project. This year's advert features celebrity presenter Dermot O’Leary and rapper Big Zuu, and during the advert, O’Leary shows us around a Community Fridge and says: “Everyone should have food on their plate this Christmas”.
George at Asda and Diversity Role Models
Diversity Role Models, a charity that works to prevent the bullying of LGBTQ+ individuals, has been supported by George - Asda’s clothing line - this year. After donating £100,000 to the charity, George’s first standalone Christmas advert is also in partnership with the charity.
Adam McCann, chief executive at Diversity Role Models, said: “There remains a huge opportunity to encourage young people to celebrate difference and include everyone, to avoid the psychological effects from bullying and isolation. We’re proud to partner on this campaign because it puts joy at the heart of embracing who you are and encourages everyone to be themselves.”
Media
The Guardian and the Observer for climate change charities
The Guardian and the Observer have chosen four climate change charities to support during its Christmas appeal.
This includes Practical Action, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Global Greenrants Fund UK and the Environmental Justice Foundation. All the charities chosen support marginalised groups who have been exponentially effected by the effects of climate change.
The media outlets are encouraging its readers to donate using this link.
The Telegraph partners with social impact charities
The Telegraph's Christmas Charity Appeal raised £836,692 for four national charities last year.This year, it is raising money for four new charities: the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Maggie's, the Alzheimer's Society and Dogs Trust.
To donate, the Telegraph is imploring its readers to call 0151 284 1927 or go to telegraph.co.uk/2021appeal for more information.
The Times and The Sunday Times support three charities for vulnerable people
The Times and The Sunday Times are asking their readers to support three charities, which address issues affecting vulnerable individuals.
The charities are the Refugee Councils of Britain, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and the Outward Bound Trust.
Bloomberg and Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
Before Giving Tuesday (30th November) Bloomberg employees donated their time to volunteer at ZSL zoo. Over 2021, 170 employees volunteered for over 750 hours at the zoo.
In keeping with the festive season, the volunteers created Christmas snacks for the zoo’s Komodo dragon Ganas. The red river hogs were treated to paper mâché baubles which were filled with sunflower seeds.
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