We all know the benefits of getting involved with charity work: it’s a way of connecting with the local and even global community, and allows you to make a real impact by supporting a worthy cause.
Apart from directly donating money or gift-giving, there are many other ways to get involved in charitable events, like participating in an event, social media sharing and even organ donation!
These, however, depend on the time and resources that you are able to invest in a particular charity, meaning that you might have to spend a while deciding on one to support.
Luckily, we have come up with a few tips and tricks on how to select the right charity for you.
Start with the cause
Firstly, start with yourself. What is it that you’re truly passionate about? Animal rights, tackling poverty, preventing homelessness? As well as this, what kind of help are you looking to provide – fundraising through actions like running a marathon, making direct money donations or volunteering to prepare meals at a local shelter? There are many organisations that need support and the list keeps on growing.
Browse local charities
Although one person can easily make a great contribution towards a global cause, it can be helpful to start on a local scale. This will allow you to get a feel for how the process works and explore charities and organisations in need of support closer to home.
Explore various online resources available, like an online search tool on Charity Choice, Neighbourly or even the official list of registered charity. These sites allow you to filter by postcode, category or name, where any chosen charity or organisation has an information page with its contact details and a description of accepted donations.
For instance, mental health charity Mind has several charity shops across the UK. As well as this, the site has a daily and monthly financial donations page, which outlines where the money will go – for example, improving mental health support call-centres for those who are really struggling.
However, there is no pressure to make a financial contribution. Remember that supporting a cause can simply mean starting to speak out about it, perhaps by sharing fundraiser campaigns’ links on social media to raise awareness.
Assess your contribution
Choosing a charity or beneficiary is a big deal. Whether you’re taking the first step towards providing greater support in the future, or simply want to make a difference today – no matter how big or small, it is always the thought that counts. The main purpose of donations is supporting various causes; however, it is also making as many people as possible aware of the issues that still exist today and need our immediate attention – for instance, environmental actions to tackle the climate crisis.
On the sites mentioned above – as well as on the organisations’ sites themselves – there are many choices of local charities and community groups for those looking to get involved in local causes. These may be independently run or supported by local council initiatives, such as the Youth Opportunity Funding tool.
If you’d like to provide support through direct action, there is a wide range of volunteering options: in care homes, churches, schools and many other places that would not mind an extra helping hand.
NSPCC, Paid Medical Trials and like-minded sites offer a variety of choices, from volunteering to working as a vaccinator or in children’s help services. There are choices of regular work or a one-time involvement in an event or a project, but one thing’s for sure – there are hundreds to choose from!
Reflection
Our world is not perfect, but with proactive engagement, community spirit and genuine goodwill, we can all make an effort to give something back every day. It is never too late to start making a real difference to support the causes you value the most.