Get Giving - 13 local charities you can help this Christmas
Help spread the magic of Christmas this year
Last updated 14th Nov 2023
While Christmas may be a magical time of the year it is also one of the most difficult times for some within our communities.
The cost-of-living crisis is affecting more families each day, with more people than ever relying on charities and community groups to get them through these difficult times.
Get yourself into the season of giving with our list of charities to donate to this Christmas.
Cash For Kids NI
"Christmas for every child. That's our mission".
Cash for Kids Mission Christmas is one of the charities biggest campaigns aiming to improve the lives of disadvantaged child and young people in the community who are affected by poverty, illness, neglect or have additional needs.
Check out their drop-off points map to find where you can donate gifts. You can also donate cash or gifts online or sign up for some festive fundraising.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army has been helping struggling families in Northern Ireland celebrate Christmas for over 43 years.
Last year's Family Appeal helped over 2500 families (more than 5200 children) across the province.
The Family Appeal mainly relies on public to donate gifts as well as volunteers. New and unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at all Salvation Army churches and centres across Northern Ireland, as well as Tesco stores until December 15th.
Members of the public and businesses are also encouraged to donate online through the JustGiving page
Age NI
Christmas can be the loneliest time of the year for a lot of people but with Age NI their mission is to help people enjoy later life.
Our society is ageing with NI having more people over the age of 50 than under the age of 19. Just £5 can provide a weekly friendship call to an older person feeling isolated or lonely, with other donation options available.
Help prevent loneliness by clicking here to donate.
The Trussell Trust
Having 22 food banks in the NI, distributing parcels at over 45 venues across all six counties. NI is the smallest region in the Trussell Trust network but from 1 April to 30 September 2022 they distributed 32,000 emergency parcels to people in NI, including 13,400 for children.
Representing a 25% increase from last year and a 194% increase compared to the same period five years ago.
Check out their website to find how to donate
Young Lives vs Cancer
Bring Christmas to a child with Cancer
Christmas is a difficult time of the year especially for children with cancer who often are faced with frustration, isolation and are scared.
Your donation can help make sure children, young people and their families have specialist support they need.
Click here to donate .
RSPCA Christmas Rescue
This year has saw a 24% increase in reports of pets being abandoned.
Help rescue hundreds of neglected, starved, beaten and abused animals. Today they will answer around 3,000 calls about animal welfare, cruelty and neglect. Today they urgently need your help to save them.
Donate online to help answer more calls, rescue more innocent animals and provide more lifesaving treatments.
Barnardos Christmas Appeal
8 children in every classroom across the UK are living in poverty. Help be part of the change and prevent families facing another difficult winter.
Of every £1 donated 92p goes into work, 3p on governance and pension costs and 5p on raising the next £1.
Click here to donate and help be part of the change.
Stuff a Bus NI
Help tackle hunger this Christmas and be part of the 25,000 meals needing to be provided.
Stuff a Bus appeal comes at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is at peak levels. With more families than ever facing severe financial difficulties and finding themselves in need.
Find one on your nearest food donation stations here or donate online here.
Simon Community NI
Existing to support people who are experiencing or at a high risk of homelessness. They are a leading provider of homelessness services in NI supporting 636 people every day.
Simon Community has a bundle of activities and ways in which you can donate from Sweaters 4 Simon Schools, Shop 4 Simon to raising money through a Christmas Hamper Appeal.
Click here to find ways to get involved today.
Northern Ireland Hospice
NI Hospice is a local charity offering specialist respite, symptom management and end of life palliative care to 4,000 infants, children and adults each year across Northern Ireland.
Donate here or join one of their multiple campaigns including the Jingle Run 2023 on 3rd December for a 5k Run or a short 1km Reindeer Dash at V36 at The Valley Park.
Hurt NI
Hurt offers a unique approach to addiction recovery and family support. Providing a listening ear, counselling, reflexology or acupuncture.
Only £8 could provide acupuncture seeds for a client to use at home for 4 weeks. Join the annual Darkness into Light in 2024 to help raise money for those impacted by suicide and self-harm. Click here to access their website and donate.
Northern Ireland Chest, Heart & Stroke
Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke provides expert care and support to anyone at risk of or currently living with chest, heart and stroke conditions while also funding local ground-breaking research into better treatments, care and prevention for over 75 years in Northern Ireland since 1946.
Help be part of the change that affects 1 in 5 people. Click here to donate.
Autism NI
Northern Ireland's longest serving autism charity and training provider, working to provide life changing services for over 35,000 autistic people and their families through Northern Ireland.
Autism NI provides services through their helpline, Early Intervention, Family Support, Autistic Adult Services, Support Groups, Autistic Girls and Mental Health and Autism Project.
With 90% of all income directly spent on providing services click here to find out how you can donate.
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