By Rachel Lacey
21/1/2023
You won’t be alone if you want to give a bit more to charity but don’t really feel like you can afford it. Rising costs mean we’re all feeling the pinch, charities included.
However, donations aren’t the only way to support a charity. Thankfully there are plenty of ways you can help your favourite causes without increasing the pressure on your monthly budget or spending any more than normal.
Get some inspiration with our top five tips:
1.Embrace your local charity shops
Whether you fancy something to read, some new crockery or clothes, why not check out your local charity shops before you hit your regular high-street stores? Strike lucky and you’ll not only be helping out a charity, you’ll also save yourself some money and be shopping more sustainably too.
Sending things you no longer use might just feel like decluttering but don’t forget that’s helping charities too. Anything that’s still in a box or has tags will be particularly appreciated. So, if you’ve any unwanted Christmas gifts, or unworn clothes lurking at the back of your wardrobe drop them off at your local charity shop. If you’re eligible for Gift Aid on your donation then don’t forget to do so, as the charity can claim an extra 25p donation on every pound you’ve given (at no extra cost to you).
You can donate bigger items, too, such as wardrobes, sofas, mirrors and more. You might already be donating to the homeless charity Emmaus using Savoo Search, Save & Raise, but did you know they accept donated goods alongside your financial support? Either drop your donation off at a local store, or use the site to book a collection slot from your home. Charity shops that collect from your home are an excellent option for those with limited mobility, or those looking to donate large items that do not own a car or van.
Other charities that will collect furniture from your home include the British Heart Foundation and the Salvation Army. The British Heart Foundation furniture collection service is completely free of charge, and they also offer a free postal service if you’re only donating smaller items. While this means you can’t book a charity clothes collection from home, you’ll still be able to get unwanted items off your hands with minimal effort and zero added cost! If you’d rather donate elsewhere, the Salvation Army furniture collection service is also free: simply enter your postcode to book your collection window.
2. Shop online with Savoo
Discount codes are a great way to save money when you shop online. But with our codes and deals, we’ll split our commission with the charity of your choice. For every Savoo discount code you use, a percentage of your spend will be donated to charity with no extra steps required from you! That means every time you shop through Savoo you’ll be making a charitable donation without spending a penny more.
To get started you’ll need to create an account at Savoo and select the charity you’d like to donate to: it’s that easy! If you have any more questions, head to our How It Works page.
Use our search engine and we’ll also donate a penny for every internet search you do too. Powered by Bing, Savoo Search, Save & Raise is a tool you can use to search the internet just like using Bing as your browser. The only difference? For every search you make, a penny will be donated to your chosen charity. According to BrightEdge, Bing processes 900 million searches every day (2021 data). If these searches were all made through Savoo Search, Save & Raise, this would equal a huge £9 million every day being donated to charity, completely free of charge to the search user.
3. Donate your time - Start volunteering
It’s not just cash that charities need; your time is often just as valuable. So, if you’ve time on your hands why not explore volunteering opportunities? Oxfam, for example, is currently looking out for volunteers to help run its shops’ social media channels. Maisie Bates, volunteer at Oxfam in Earlsfield, London, said: “Charity shops are able to raise a huge amount of money for a good cause and I wanted to help and be a part of that. I really love talking to different people because it's not something I've come across in other employment."
Helping out a local charity shop is an obvious starting point but the opportunities go beyond sorting donations and manning the till: “my time is largely spend sorting clothes however, I also spend quite a lot of time talking to other volunteers (who are often neurodivergent or disabled) about their lives… We also get to pitch ideas on how can improve sales at the shop, new ways to order everything and setting up the front window".
Most charities will promote their volunteering opportunities on their website. Alternatively, you can search for volunteering work near you at CharityJob.co.uk.
4. Get fundraising
Another way to help a charity is to raise money on its behalf. From cake sales and bake-offs to sponsored challenges, fundraising can be rewarding and a lot of fun. Almost all charities support fundraising efforts from individuals and communities, and you’ll likely find plenty of information and guidance on the individual charity’s website. You don’t always have to plan it yourself: for those with limited time available why not sign up for a fundraising event that has already been planned? Our upcoming charity of the month, Diabetes UK, offers information on pre-scheduled fundraising events you can take part in. Such events include swim challenges, wellness walks, and cycle rides, as well as fun activities like the kilt walk or the tough mudder. You can also offer your support by volunteering at a charity event: roles include being a route marshal, utilising your expertise as an event videographer, or simply offering emotional support by showing up and cheering on those taking part!
If you’re interested in organising your own event, charities such as the Trussell Trust detail fundraising ideas, and will supply a Fundraising Pack to support you: simply fill in the Fundraising Pack Request form with details of your planned fundraiser, and why you’re supporting the Trussell Trust! Depending on what you decide to do it can help you get fit, meet new people or get your creative juices flowing.
A simple step-by-step guide to organising your own fundraising event:
- Choose your event and charity
- Pick a time and date
- Write out a list of logistics (how many people will you need to help out? What is your fundraising goal? What equipment will you need to make this possible?)
- Contact your charity and let them know your plan
- Pick a way to allow people to donate (whether that’s online payments, cash donations, or even volunteering their time to help you out)^
- Let friends, family, colleagues and strangers know what you’re planning! You can do this via text, social media, and flyers.
^ Sites like JustGiving make it easy for people to donate and by putting links on social media you can spread the word quickly and increase the number of people who will support you.
Other charities that encourage fundraising include:
5. Leave a charitable donation in your will
Legacies provide a vital source of income for charities and there are several ways you can include them in your will. You can either leave a fixed amount, a percentage share or whatever is left after other gifts have been made. If you have any particularly valuable possessions you could also choose to leave them to a charity.
Follow the simple steps below or watch this video by Remember A Charity to find out how to leave a charitable donation in your will:
- Find out your chosen charity’s name, address, and their registered number^
- Choose a solicitor or will writer to help you write your will
- Give the details from step 1 to your solicitor or will writer when working with them to draft your will
- That’s it!
^Use the Find A Charity search engine on the Register of Charities for an easy way to find out your charity’s registered number.
Find out how you can write a will for free in Free Wills Month.