Giving Tuesday – keep it local

Giving Tuesday – keep it local
RG10 Mag

‘Giving Tuesday’ follows hot on the heels of the retail frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, falling this year on 1 December. It is a day for demonstrating generosity of spirit to support the causes and communities that matter to us.

Here at RG10 we’re all about supporting local businesses, charities and associations, so why not also ‘keep it local’ for Giving Tuesday?

Here’s our round-up of some great initiatives you can support this year that will make a real difference in your community.

First Days Childrens’ Charity

First Days in Hurst works to reduce the long-term effect of poverty on children by equipping families in need with items such as school uniforms, toys, books and new baby essentials.

Their Christmas giving campaign has led to the public making many generous donations of presents and stocking fillers, which the charity is now busy delivering to families facing hardship.

Ways you can help:

Daisy’s Dream

Daisy’s Dream is the Berkshire charity supporting children and their families through bereavement.

Ways you can help:

The Cowshed

The Cowshed provides clean, ironed clothing and other items to individuals and families in Berkshire experiencing hardship or going through a time of personal crisis.

How you can help:

  • Donate good quality clothing, footwear, bedding and curtains at the Cowshed’s new distribution centre in Winnersh – 4 Kings Street Lane, RG41 5AS – open Monday to Thursday from 10am to 3pm (but closed between 15 December and 4 January)
  • Purchase a Christmas gift from the charity’s Amazon Wish List
  • Consider making a financial donation
  • Follow the Cowshed on Facebook for the latest news.

Camp Mohawk

Camp Mohawk is a multi-functional day centre for children with special needs and their families, set in 5 acres of beautiful countryside just outside Wargrave. 

How you can help:

  • Read the charity’s Giving Tuesday appeal to learn about the impact of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic on families of children with special needs
  • Donate what you can to help the charity plug a huge hole in its fundraising for 2020/21 – perhaps the cost of the coffee you used to buy on your work commute, or the value of a tank of petrol
  • If you shop on Amazon, use the Amazon Smile option having set your chosen charity to The Woodland Centre Trust (Camp Mohawk), enabling them to receive 0.5% of the value of each order
  • Follow Camp Mohawk on Facebook for news of activities.

Age Concern Twyford & District

Age Concern Twyford & District is an independent charity that supports elderly people and carers across an area including Twyford, Hurst, Wargrave, Sonning, Ruscombe and Charvil. Staff and volunteers help to end social isolation and loneliness by welcoming members to a Covid-safe day centre and offering community outreach services.

How you can help:

Twyford & District Round Table

This local branch of the national and international Round Table organisation cites its aims as Fun, friendship and fundraising. Twyford & District Round Table collects money for local and national good causes mainly through two long-running annual events: members organise a Bonfire & Fireworks night at the end of October and also help Father Christmas tour Twyford and surrounds on his sleigh in December.

This year’s bonfire night was cancelled in line with government advice concerning large gatherings. However, the Round Table ran an online quiz night in November and say that Santa is still planning his sleigh tour of the area in December with his elves and reindeer – Covid restrictions permitting, of course.

How you can help:

  • Follow Twyford & District Round Table on Facebook for dates/times and the route summary of Santa’s sleigh tour
  • While any children who have been good this year receive a cheery wave from Father Christmas, you can make a contribution to the elves on foot with charity buckets
  • Alternatively donate online if you miss them (or any time)!

Rotary Club of Maiden Erlegh

The Rotary Club of Maiden Erlegh is another organisation which raises money for local good causes.

Their members are working with other Rotary Clubs in the Reading area to help relieve the suffering and hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to helping charities with telephone calls to vulnerable people, they are supporting local organisations providing food and essentials to those in need.

How you can help:

Local schools

Schools have also had a rough ride this year and need all the extra fundraising they can get.

Some local schools or PTAs are running an online Christmas raffle, quiz night or other event in the absence of any physical Christmas fairs.

  • Check whether your local school is running a festive fundraiser that you might like to support.
  • Have a clear out and donate unwanted clothing and shoes to a BagsToSchool scheme, such as the regular collections for Polehampton Infants and Junior schools in Twyford.
  • Support Charvil Piggott School Association by buying tickets in the Big PTA Raffle – they’ll receive half of the money spent while you get 12 chances per ticket to win up to £5000!

Hurst Show and Country Fayre

This two-day event in late June normally raises tens of thousands of pounds for local charities. This year, organisers pulled off the amazing feat of still raising around £10,000 through a series of virtual events based around some of the annual highlights, including a classic car show, an arts trail and a hobby horse competition. A local photographer also produced and sold a 2020 Hurst Village Souvenir Magazine sponsored by local businesses, with all profits helping to top up the Hurst Show fundraising.

How you can help:

  • Buy a copy of the wittily named Hungry and Hursty, a new village cookbook supporting Hurst Show funds – but hurry, the Christmas order deadline is 1 December (Giving Tuesday!)
  • Follow Hurst Show on Facebook to learn of other ingenious fundraising ideas from the Hurst community as they arise.

Home-Start Wokingham District

This is our local branch of Home-Start, a charity that supports vulnerable young families through tough times. Coronavirus restrictions permitting, their home visiting service is unique in the Wokingham Borough, providing compassionate, confidential and non-judgmental help and friendship to local parents struggling to cope with the daily challenges of family life. Support has continued online through periods of lockdown.

The Home-Start approach is to give young children the best start in life by supporting the whole family, encouraging parents to face challenges, increase confidence, strengthen relationships and widen their links in the local community.

How you can help:

  • Register with Easyfundraising to support Home-Start Wokingham whenever you shop online. Until 25 December, the John Lewis Partnership is passing an extra £1 to Home-Start Wokingham District for any new person that signs up. Easyfundraising turns your everyday online shopping into free donations, with thousands of participating retailers all making a small donation to thank you for each purchase. Simply follow this link, select Home-Start Wokingham and register an account before proceeding to shop online via any of the retailer links provided.
  • Make a donation to Home-Start Wokingham on their LocalGiving page to help make a real difference to disadvantaged families around the Wokingham Borough.