Member Article

Becoming a More Charitable Person

No matter how much you want to give and how big your heart is, donating to charity can be expensive, and times are tough!

An increasing number of people are finding other ways to help others in ways like donating old items or volunteering their time. But if you’ve already ransacked your house for items to donate, you may find some inspiration in this list.

Help the elderly with their garden Weeding, pruning or mowing the grass can be an impossible task for someone with mobility or balance problems, so throw on your wellies and lend a helping hand. At the same time you’ll be providing company to the person you’re helping, it’s a win win!

Donate blood If you’re between the age of 17 and 65 it’s likely that you can give blood! Time could be the factor to put you off, when in reality the most time consuming part is finding your local donation point. The actual pumping out a pint of red only takes up to ten minutes.

Raise guide dogs Each guide dog lives with a volunteer from six weeks old until it’s 12 to 14 months old. With a goal to produce friendly, well behaved and responsive dogs, the volunteer must teach basic obedience like sit, stay, come and of course walking on a lead!

Equipment, vets bill and food costs are all covered by the charity, so you get to look after a precious pooch without the expenses of it, who wouldn’t want to sign up?

Gift a charity in your will Many people choose to leave money or other assets to charities when they pass. If a charity is particularly important to you, or you come from a well off family, you could even wish to leave most of your estate to charity. For advice on drafting your will, seek professional help from £FBCMB wills and probate solicitors.

Become an organ donor Who really needs their organs once they’re dead? Yet only 29% of us have registered to be an organ donor! Sign up and carry your donor card around in your wallet, plus make sure to let your nearest and dearest know about your intentions, and which bits you’re happy to let go of.

Learn some sign language The charity Hearing Loss has drop in centres around the UK which hold events for the 10 million people in UK who are deaf or suffer from hearing loss. These events are an advantage for volunteers to lip read or sign, it can also help you assess whether you want to go forward with paid-for training through the charity.

Eat a curry So this one involves spending a bit of money, but if you’re going out for tea you may as well be helping save one of the world’s rarest species whilst you do it. During Save the Bengal Tiger week (14-17 May) Indian restaurants around the country serve a three course meal for £20. 25% of the proceeds from this meal go towards protecting the big cats out in the wild!

With so many alternative ways to help out your favourite charity you’ll be feeling more charitable in no time!

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by amy harker .