The holiday period is, for many, a time to be thankful, celebrate with friends and family, and look forward to the year ahead. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy time for everyone. As the weather turns colder, this can be an especially difficult time for people struggling with food insecurity, attempting to find employment, personal health and meeting basic needs like a warm, safe place to sleep.


According to the Charities Aid Foundation’s 2019 Charity Landscape, “4 in 5 charity leaders state that demand for their organisa- tion’s services has increased over the last 12 months”, at a time when income generation remains the number one challenge for the sector. In our own local communities, 27% of Londoners currently live in poverty, including 700,000 children, with reports of 8,100 people sleeping rough in 2017, three times more than a decade ago. Recent data from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network reports that “8,855 people slept rough in the capital in 2018/19, a rise of nearly a fifth in 12 months”. This upward trend is concerning and overwhelming for the charities in the UK with missions rooted in poverty alleviation.


With the uncertainty of Brexit looming over the country and other priorities requiring more government attention, these challenges are expected to increase. There is a growing need for volunteers and individual support to close the gap and spread the spirit of giving. For the past 35 years, the Junior League of London (JLL) has been partnering with and supporting community organisa- tions to do just this. If you are able and seeking opportunities to give back, there are a variety of ways you can support your com- munity this holiday season. Encourage your friends, family, colleagues and partner to get involved with you too. What better way to share cheer than to do something for others together?


Here are ten ways you can give back this holiday season 1. Host a food drive


Hunger in the United Kingdom is grow- ing. Te Trussell Trust, which supports more than 1,200 UK foodbanks, provided a record 1.6 million food supplies between April 2018 and March 2019, a 19% in- crease over the previous year. Over 90% of the food is via public donations. Hosting a food drive can make an immediate impact. Hammersmith and Fulham FoodBank provides people in crisis with a balanced and nutritious three-day supply of food. Manna Society’s centre, based in London Bridge, is a seven-day-a-week drop-in cen- tre that provides breakfast, lunch, hot showers, welfare advice and computer ac- cess. Both are in need of items. Visit ham- mersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk and mannasociety.org.uk to see the most criti- cally needed foods and where to drop off.


2. Clean your wardrobe


Your gently used professional clothing, ac- cessories and footwear can make a big dif- ference in the lives of unemployed people. Clothing is one step our partner organisa- tions Smart Works and Suited & Booted use to prepare clients for job interviews so they enter feeling empowered and confi-


dent. Items from a clothing drive also support our Little Black Dress Initiative. Each spring, participants in the fundrais- ing campaign wear the same black dress for five consecutive days to raise awareness about poverty and its effects on women. We host clothing drives for Smart Works and Suited & Booted in conjunction with the initiative. Visit jll.org.uk/thelbdi/, smartworks.org.uk and suitedbootedcentre.org.uk.


3. Make or purchase a Holiday Hamper


For 23 years, the Junior League of London’s signature Holiday Hampers pro- gramme has been filling hampers with gifts, food, toiletries and other essentials for London’s most vulnerable people. In 2018, we filled more than 800 customised hampers to the elderly, single mothers es- caping domestic violence, and families working their way out of poverty or homelessness. A ‘single mother’ hamper may include soup, dried pasta and sauce, tinned fruit and vegetables, biscuits, tea, chocolate, toiletries, a book and person- alised gifts. Our partners tell us that our


hampers are often the only gifts their clients receive. How can you get involved? Host a drive to collect items, put a ham- per together as a family or purchase items to be sent to us. You can buy from our Amazon wishlist or to learn more about the Holiday Hampers programme, visit: jll.org.uk/holiday-hampers


4. Cash is still king


Especially during the holidays, cash dona- tions are still the most popular way to do- nate. Te Charities Aid Foundation’s 2019 UK Giving Report (the largest study of giving behaviour in the UK) found that while the proportion of people giving money to charity has slightly declined be- tween 2016 and 2018, from 69% to 65%, the total amount given to charity remains largely the same as 2017 at £10.1billion. So those who are giving are giving higher amounts. Furthermore, the peak months for giving money are November and December. See what your contribution to the Junior League of London’s Annual Fund could provide via this handy list: https://www.jll.org.uk/donate


www.focus-info.org


FOCUS The Magazine 5


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