Christmas is a magical time of year when retailers and media companies go all out to raise money and awareness for their selected charities. We take a look at which charities have won the backing of key players.
Media
The Guardian and Observer
This year’s theme at the Guardian and Observer is homelessness, with the papers’ charitable efforts supporting Depaul UK, Naccom (the No Accommodation Network) and Centrepoint.
So far, the appeal has raised more than £300,000. Journalists have taken part in an annual telethon and pieces about the charities and their beneficiaries have appeared across the titles.
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 also focused on homelessness and ran an appeal to raise money for The Connection at St Martin’s and the Vicar’s Relief Fund (VRF) to help people who are either homeless or in danger of becoming so.
It is the 91st year St Martin-in-the-Fields and BBC Radio 4 have run a Christmas appeal together, with last year’s raising £2.85m.
The Times
The Times and Sunday Times are raising money for three charities – the Ellen MacArthur Trust for children with cancer, the Alzheimer’s Society and Children on the Edge, a charity that was set up by the late Dame Anita Roddick and works with vulnerable Rohingya children in Bangladesh.
Telegraph
Now in its 27th year, the Telegraph Christmas appeal is raising money for Missing People, food redistribution charity FareShare and Canine Partners, which provides assitance animals.
Last year the appeal raised £550,000.
Independent and London Evening Standard
This year the Independent and London Evening Standard are supporting the Felix Project, which aims to support people affected by food insecurity.
The charity was set up in 2016 to redistribute surplus food from retailers to charities.
Financial Times
This year the FT is supporting Alzheimer's Research UK. Goldman Sachs is providing a match fund of £300,000.
HuffPost UK
HuffPost UK’s Christmas appeal is raising money for Unicef’s work with Syrian refugees.
The media outlet said it had chosen to focus on Syria because “there is a risk that people will forget at a crisis that has been around for seven years”.
Retail
John Lewis
Barnardo’s is the department store’s charity partner this year, with 10 per cent of the price of Moz the Monster merchandise going to the charity.
Thorntons
Chocolate retailer Thorntons is supporting the military charity SSAFA through its Pass on the Love campaign.
A TV advert features a young naval officer arriving home to meet his girlfriend’s family with a box of Thorntons Continental chocolates.
The range has recently been refreshed and 2 per cent of sales will go to the charity.
Tesco
Over 300,000 Tesco staff took part in its Festive Bash fundraisers to support the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK.
It was the final major fundraiser for the partnership which will come to an end in January 2018 after three years.
Enesco
Gift company, Enesco is donating £1.35 from the sale of every cuddly Peter Rabbit soft toy to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
Oliver Bonos
Fashion and home retailer, Oliver Bonas, is donating £5 from the sale of a £29.50 heart necklace to the Eve Appeal.
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