Hospices across the country get behind Giving Tuesday

Categories: Community Engagement.

Originally launched in the US in 2012, a UK version of Giving Tuesday, organised by the Charities Aid Foundation, took place for the first time last year. It aims to promote and raise money for the charity sector, following ‘Black Friday’ and ‘Cyber Monday’, which tend to see high levels of shopping sales, both in stores and online.

A number of charities have signed up as Giving Tuesday partners, including 18 hospice care organisations.

Sue Ryder is using its partnership with the supermarket chain Morrisons to mark the occasion, with Morrisons staff taking part in a ‘Dress Festive for Sue Ryder’ day. The charity, which runs seven hospices across the country, is also set to benefit from the sale of virtual gifts and Morrisons Christmas cards.

Sue Ryder’s director of fundraising, Holly Spiers, said: “We’re delighted that there are so many new ways for Morrisons customers and colleagues to get involved in supporting Sue Ryder this year. We’re particularly excited about our range of virtual gifts, which could make an enormous difference to the care we are able to provide across the country.”

The initiative is has proved popular across social media, with the hashtag #GivingTuesday trending on Twitter as individuals and organisations show their support for the day.

National charity Marie Curie and St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds are both using the day to thank their supporters and volunteers, with regular posts on social media sharing stories and raising awareness of the work they do in aid of the charities.

Kent-based Hospice in the Weald is also encouraging its supporters to share photos of people that they will be remembering over the festive period using the hashtag #IRemember. The hospice has also announced that all Giving Tuesday donations will be matched by a major investor, doubling the amount raised throughout the day.

St Joseph’s Hospice has used the day to launch its Christmas Moments appeal, as the charity looks to raise awareness of the work it does with patients, their families and friends in east London. the hospice is also using social media to help spread its message, with stories of how the hospice cares for patients at Christmas published every day of advent on the St Joseph’s Facebook page.

St Ann’s Hospice is encouraging supporters to give a donation, a couple of hours of volunteering or donations of clothing or goods to their local charity shop. People can also get involved by ‘giving up’ something for the day and be sponsored or ‘giving up’ space on social media platforms to spread the word about the hospice.

Director of income generation and communications at St Ann’s, Alison Gilbody, said: “At such a busy time of the year it can sometimes be hard to commit to giving to charity but we are asking for a single feel-good ‘give’ from people as a distraction from the shopping, present-wrapping and chaos that the festive season brings.

“One single ‘give’ on Giving Tuesday will make a real difference to entire families, not just to patients but to all of those around them too.”

Visit the Giving Tuesday website for more information, including a full list of the charities that are taking part.

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