Prime minister and Third Sector minister back Christmas giving campaigns

Prime minister and Third Sector minister back Christmas giving campaigns

News

One of two campaigns launched this month to encourage people to give to the causes they care about is being backed by prime minister Gordon Brown.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations' (NCVO) What do you Believe in? campaign encourages the public to donate to their favourite causes advising them to use online fundraising initiative The Big Give and the Charities Aid Foundation website to identify relevant organisations.

The campaign encourages people to research the causes through the websites and by checking with the Charity Commission, to look at local as well as national causes and to apply for Gift Aid on their donations.

Pledging his support for the campaign, Gordon Brown said, “I believe charities make a huge and positive contribution to local communities, which is why I’m backing this campaign to support thousands of organisations across the UK.”

Also this month the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) has launched a campaign, called Give With Confidence. The campaign, backed by Angela Smith MP, minister for the third sector, calls on the public to think about the causes they care about and give what they can this Christmas.

Smith has written to MPs of all parties across the country encouraging them to support this campaign by urging their local constituents to give.

Independent MP for Castle Point in Essex Bob Spink is asking local residents to dig deep to support local charities. “Christmas is traditionally a time for giving to charitable causes and I hope that those who can will act now to support the charities close to their heart,” he said.

More information on the What do you Believe in? and the Give With Confidence campaigns is available online.