Every Christmas period media outlets announce partnerships with charities, often raising much-needed funds.
Christmas appeals in 2022 raised over £8m for numerous charities, with the Evening Standard and Independent campaign raising the most it ever has in a month.
This year, chosen charities have causes including dementia support, helping people struggling with food insecurity, children’s health and well-being, refugee support, and a number of other causes.
Guardian and Observer appeal
The Refugee Councils of Britain, made up of the Refugee Council, Scottish Refugee Council and Welsh Refugee Council, will receive some of the funds raised by the Guardian and Observer papers’ annual charity appeal this year.
The other charities chosen by the Guardian are hosting charity Refugees at Home and NACCOM, the UK-wide national network of frontline organisations working to end destitution amongst people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants, which will distribute funds to refugee community organisations.
The appeal encourages readers to donate to the chosen charities to help refugees rebuild their lives in the UK. As part of the appeal, the newspapers will profile the charities’ work through articles and a film.
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said: “We are thrilled the Guardian has chosen to shine a light on refugees and people in the asylum system through their appeal this year, raising awareness of the issues they face and the work refugee organisations play in helping them rebuild their lives.
“The funds raised will help make vulnerable men, women and children feel welcome in the UK after having fled war, torture and persecution in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
“The solidarity of the public is all the more important this year given the government’s hostile policies that are having such a devastating impact on all those we work with.
“With the support of the Guardian and Observer’s readers, the Refugee Councils of Britain will keep working to build a fair and humane asylum system that upholds our international commitments to provide protection to those who need it.”
Daily Mirror appeal
Young Lives vs Cancer has been chosen for this year’s Mirror Christmas appeal.
The appeal, which launched on 3 December in the Sunday Mirror, will run until Christmas Day.
Young Lives vs Cancer supports children and young people and their families from the moment they are told “it’s cancer”.
The Mirror and Sunday Mirror will be sharing experiences of children and young people with cancer who have been supported by Young Lives vs Cancer.
Rachel Kirby-Rider, chief executive at the charity, said: “We are so excited to be chosen for the Mirror’s Christmas appeal this year. This is an incredible opportunity to raise awareness of the experiences of children and young people with cancer and how the support we provide can help them and their families.
“Every day I hear just how much this support means to families at the toughest time. There’s the grant a young person used to buy a winter coat to keep warm during treatment, the social worker who sat and spoke to a teenage girl about losing her hair, or the kitchen at our Home from Home that meant a dad could make his daughter’s favourite chicken pie and take it to the hospital ward across the road still piping hot.
“We hope by working with the Mirror that we can raise much-needed funds so Young Lives vs Cancer can continue to be there for children and young people with cancer and their families and so that any readers who need our support can reach out and get the help they need.”
The Times and Sunday Times appeal
The Times and the Sunday Times are joining forces for this year’s Christmas appeal. The news brands are supporting organisations providing education for children living in crisis situations across the world, giving young people wheelchairs and mobility equipment and running food clubs across the UK to ensure healthy food for all.
Every pound donated to Street Child by readers of the Times and Sunday Times will be doubled up to £225,000.
Of this matched funding, £150,000 will be provided by From Babies with Love, a baby clothing brand that donates 100% of its profit to vulnerable children, and generous donations from Boodles, a luxury and fine diamond retailer, and an anonymous donor.
Every pound donated to Whizz Kidz will be matched up to £50,000 thanks to Barratts Developments Plc, while Prezzo, an Italian restaurant chain, has agreed to match donations to Feeding Britain, up to £15,000.
Readers helped raise more than £2.1m for last year’s Christmas appeal.
Evening Standard appeal
The Evening Standard has combined forces with Comic Relief to launch its Winter Survival Appeal Christmas campaign, with Comic Relief pledging £500,000 to get it under way.
The money will be given to charities in London and across the country that help people struggling with food insecurity as well as children’s health and well-being.
They include food redistribution charities FareShare and the Felix Project, baby banks such as Little Village and at least another 15 charities.
The Telegraph appeal
This year, The Telegraph is supporting four charities: Marie Curie, the RAF Benevolent Fund, Race Against Dementia and Go Beyond.
Last year’s, the grand total of £726,000 was the second-highest figure in a decade.
The paper states: “As Christmas approaches, few of us will regret saying goodbye to 2023. Crippling food prices, utility bills and mortgage rates have all added up to a tough year for many – and for the UK’s charities, it’s been one of unprecedented challenges.
“While running costs have rocketed, their life-changing services have been needed more than ever. So, as the year draws to a close, we are asking you – our incredibly generous and caring readers – to help our four chosen charities in the Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal 2023.”
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