Charitable Times

Like many other businesses, Corona 19 has left charities seriously out of pocket, due to their income streams via shops and funding opportunities being severely cut.

On flip side, at a time when their money is dwindling, there is a greater need for their work and services. As communities are self-isolating, the numbers of vulnerable people needing food and support has risen.

Hundreds of charities, from the larger ones, like Royal Opera House and London Zoo, down to smaller, local charities are unable to work due to lockdown. Overall, charities have lost billions, and few have the extra funds to keep them afloat

Charities rely heavily on volunteers, but many of the people who work for charities are older, and often pensioners, who also fall into the vulnerable group themselves.

How are the charities working around this?

Many larger charities have launched emergency appeals for donations, and the call has been answered by people of all ages and walk of life.

It has been wonderful to see the community spirit during lockdown, with local communities, and even streets getting together to ensure that the elder members are cared for. People are shopping for their neighbours who might be self-isolating due to ill health, or with high-risk medical conditions. People seem to have taken more time to care and be kind.

One of the most amazing stories has been Sir Tom Moore’s who started raising money for NHS charities just before his hundredth birthday. His effort to raise the huge amount of money that he did is incredible, and he has been a great example to us all, showing that age certainly doesn’t stop you from doing anything.

Hundreds of people around the country have found different ways to raise funds including; whole families setting up challenges, children donating money earned by doing the chores, many, many people walking or running around their gardens; people making and selling products and art works – the list is endless. 

Businesses have also taken up the call, despite being in far from financially comfortable circumstances themselves. Companies who haven’t been able to continue their usual business have been making PPE, breathing apparatus and other useful products. The response has been phenomenal, when considering that most businesses, who aren’t front-line are facing changes of some sort.

This all goes to show, that when people pull together, as they have during this crisis, the spirit of caring has been raised many to do things they wouldn’t normally.  

Will this community spirit of giving continue when we are out of lockdown?

I would like to think that it will.

When we start work again, many smaller charities will need extra volunteers, because they may have had to cut hours, or even make redundancies to keep their charity afloat.

You don’t always have to give money, sometimes your time and offering a skill has equal value.

5 ways you could help?

1.   Business owners can offer your time. The charity may not have the money to pay people to cover all of the aspects needed to run the business. Offer your time, as a photographer; a book keeper, a graphic designer etc.  Give a couple of hours a month, or more if needed.

2.   Collect people to take them to appointments at doctors; hospital etc

3.   Collect medicines and prescriptions for elderly people who may still not be able to leave home.

4.   Can you organise and run an event as a fundraiser?

5.   Help packing products if the charity is short in their warehouse.

“When you have more than you need build a bigger table, not a higher fence”