As the shopping madness continues in the build-up to Christmas, we have to remind ourselves that it's the season for giving and there are some people who are doing a stellar job of that. So instead of maxing out your credit card, maybe take a leaf out of these books…
Homeless charity Crisis has launched a range of T-shirts and canvas bags to raise over Christmas, designed by a Crisis member who has faced life on the street themselves. The charity works towards eliminating homelessness through education, employment and housing and the T-shirts have all been made by award-winning eco-brand Rapanui – produced using 100% organic cotton.
This season, Kurt Geiger has decided to forfeit Christmas decadence for a 'No Christmas Window' – dressed only with a lonesome red bauble. The brand has pledged to donate its Christmas window fund to Hope and Homes for Children, to help give children the gift of a family. Hope and Homes for Children is a charity that is working to end the institutional care of children globally and help children grow up with the love and protection of a family. The ‘No Christmas Window’ campaign will run during the month of December and every pound donated before 12 December 2014 will be doubled by the UK government.
St Martin's Courtyard, London, is surprising its Christmas shoppers this year with random acts of kindness. From the 12-24 December, it will be distributing 100 gifts, ranging from a 10-class yoga pass, gift vouchers to spend in stores in the area and a tea hamper from the East India Company. For each of the lucky 100 recipients, St Martin's Courtyard will also donate £10 to a charity of their choice and, on top of that (yes, there's still more), visitors to the Courtyard will be treated to a fabulous free live music on Thursday and Saturday nights to get into the Christmas spirit.
And if all that isn't enough to warm your Christmas cockles, nothing will.
