Do the right thing at the office party – donate to a local charity

“I am sure the main focus of organising any Christmas do is to make sure workers enjoy themselves – and goodness knows they deserve it” said Carren, “but when it comes to making that choice for charity of the year, I want people to give it some real thought. To a charity like Lagan’s, a few pounds makes all the difference in our bid to provide carers for some of the sickest children in our community. I am not saying donations to large charities are meaningless. They are not. But small charities are essential to our communities and you know that every penny donated goes on action, not wages or major marketing campaigns.

Statistics show that 60% of generous Brits donate an average £44 to charities per month. Online giving has increased massively recently. But interestingly, while the largest organisations enjoyed a rise in income between 2013/14 and 2015/16, income for smaller charities stayed the same and even decreased (1).

Lagan’s offers at-home carers to look after babies and children with heart defects and severe feeding issues – allowing often desperate parent time to relax. They claim that by supporting a nearby good cause, a company can bolster the local economy and actually SEE what the difference their contributions are making.

Concluded Carren: “With the purse strings squeezed and even our football club coming on the brink of extinction, this has been a difficult year for Bolton – but this has not stopped us from flying the flag for our home town, nationally and internationally and increasing its profile. Local individuals have never stropped giving and taking an interest in what we are doing and I would love to see this pattern repeated across the country.

Enjoy your Christmas do. Try and make it an easier night for the emergency services! And take a moment to give local charities like ours’ the best Christmas present of all – the chance of survival.”

(1) https://www.nptuk.org/philanthropic-resources/uk-charitable-giving-statistics/