It’s that time of year again. Rather than spending money on plastic tat / novelty socks, why not use some or all of your Secret Santa in a more impactful way? Here are a few examples of charities running Secret Santa sized fundraising campaigns and other ideas for doing good within your budget.
Christmas campaigns
- Give the gift of reading – make a donation to Beanstalk + give a book you already love to your Secret Santa.
- Surprise a child with a book through Book Trust’s annual campaign.
- Be a Secret Santa with Action for Children. Help light up the map. Don’t festivalFail.
- Order a letter from Santa via NSPCC.
Secret Santa gifts
- The Charity Retail Association is encouraging everyone to be a #GoodCauseSantaClaus and buy gifts from charity shops.
- Oxfam’s online charity shop is an amazing treasure trove of unique items if you are looking for a gift. From used football stamps to vintage knitting patterns, a jigsaw of the Queen Mother, and GoggleBox board game, there’s something for everyone. You can search by price to fit your budget.
- Many charities run virtual gift packages. For example Oxfam Unwrapped gifts start at £5.
- Social Enterprise UK say #BuySocial and get #PresentsWithPurpose. Check out their Christmas catalogue.
- Use the Giving Machine’s Secret Santa generator to pick names and buy gifts.
Christmas cheer
Why not pool your funds and do something bigger as a team?
- Reserve someone a place at Crisis at Christmas for £28.18.
- Is there a Christmas Dinner for care leavers or older people near you? Could you buy something from their wishlist? Here’s Hackney’s Christmas Dinner (part of a programme of 17 Christmas Dinners for care leavers across the country, donate to their crowdfunder) and John Popham’s Connected Christmas campaign for older people.
- Set a place for a child at Mary’s Meals virtual Christmas dinner table for £13.90.
- Buy a safety kit or actual bike for a refugee via The Bike Project.
- Twin your office loo via Toilet Twinning for £60. “Santa can’t give toilets but you can.”
- Is there a local toy collection you could contribute to?
There are countless fundraising appeals, Christmas jumper days and local food bank collections you could instead donate to in the name of your Secret Santa.
Leave Relf on the shelf and give a gift that matters say International Rescue Committee in this fab video.
What are you doing?
- Do you do Secret Santa in your team? Any tips?
- Is your charity doing an interesting appeal?
Please share in the comments.
See also: charity digital advent calendars – tips and examples from 2017
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