Charity Giving
In a year when many charities are struggling to survive, familiar faces seek support for their favourite causes
Mary Berry, Trevor Mcdonald, Jilly Cooper
Princess Michael of Kent
One of the charities for which I have special care as a royal patron is called
Let’s Face It. It supports and links people with facial disfigurements. By offering support, not only on an emotional level but also by exploring sources of innovation for treatments, as well as resources for mental and physical recovery, this charity helps members not to fear the world but to learn to ‘face’ their disability. Since childhood, I’ve known a cousin whose face was badly burnt as a baby when a Christmas tree caught fire. With the help of a large, loving and supportive family, and countless operations, I know how stoically – and successfully – he has come to terms with his quite severe disfigurement and has led a normal life. Let’s Face It was not yet there for him but I know that, with generous friends, the charity can help others to survive such trauma. I doubt I would have such courage. www.lets-face-it.org.uk
Barry Cryer
It’s the 20th anniversary of the inpatient unit at St Luke’s Hospice, our local. At my age, I have visited friends in hospices in the final stages of their lives and I was struck by the cheerful atmosphere there, totally unlike a hospital. Both staff and patients know the situation and, as a result, there was chat and, indeed, laughter. I was so taken with this, I did a show for them to raise funds in aid of their work and have kept in touch. Check out your local hospice and go and see them. You won’t regret it. www.stlukes-hospice.org
Lady Antonia Fraser
Give a Book is the ideal charity for someone like me, for whom the idea of a life without access to books is a nightmare. Lockdown merely confirmed that lifelong impression. It was founded by Victoria Gray in memory of her husband, the playwright Simon Gray. Give a Book has extremely low overheads – another thing in its favour – and, in effect, every fiver given is turned into a book, which is then distributed to people who need them. These notably include prisoners, for whom book rooms and reading groups have been established, and disadvantaged children.you can either give money or check the website for ways to give books. giveabook.org.uk
Jilly Cooper
Greyhounds In Need (GIN) is a marvellous charity, which has rescued and found loving homes for thousands of abandoned and often horribly-treated greyhounds. Their speciality, however, is saving Galgos (Spanish-bred greyhounds) who as old dogs are raced into the ground during Spain’s four-month hare-coursing season, before being chucked out to die or brutally slaughtered. Please help save these lovely dogs. www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk
Claire Tomalin
Médecins Sans Frontières is the charity I hold most dear – for the unending, gruelling, worldchanging work they do, saving unaccompanied children from the Mediterranean and helping those trapped on Greek islands, for example. They are the best. www.msf.org.uk
Robert Peston
When I created Speakers for
Schools ten years ago, it was because of a conviction that education is about more than the official curriculum and passing exams. Vital too is acquiring the confidence, knowledge and skills for life. That’s why Speakers for Schools provides inspirational talks by distinguished people for state school students and amazing work experience for disadvantaged young people – all completely free of charge for students and schools. In this COVID-19 era, with its particular challenges for the young, we need support more then ever. www.speakersforschools.org
Mary Berry
Child Bereavement UK is a charity that helps children and young people (up to the age of 25), parents and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. The charity also provides training for professionals, equipping them to provide the best possible care for bereaved families. When my son William died, there was little support available for bereaved families. Through my links with Child Bereavement UK, I have met families who have received and benefited from the services of this wonderful charity. www.childbereavementuk.org
Sir Trevor Mcdonald
I am proud to have been involved with Depaul UK for almost 20 years and have seen the incredible work they do to help disadvantaged and vulnerable young people escape or avoid homelessness. Supporting Depaul’s work is vital at this time because young people are among those hardest hit by the economic downturn and homelessness has increased sharply. www.depaulcharity.org
John Banville
Few readers of this magazine have experience of being homeless, though there but for the grace of God… The
Simon Community does wonderful work – doggedly, determinedly, and without fanfares. It deserves as much support as we can afford, and perhaps a penny or two on top of that. www.simoncommunity.org.uk
Baroness (Doreen) Lawrence
I would like you to consider the Caudwell Children’s Charity, who help children with disabilities and support their parents with state-of-the-art equipment to put fun in their lives. www.caudwellchildren.com
Steven Appleby
I’m a cartoonist, author and trans person. I’ve dressed in women’s clothes in secret since my teens and, for me, trans is quite simply the struggle to be yourself when the you inside doesn’t match up to the you that’s visible to the outside world. It took me nearly 40 years to become comfortable with living as a trans woman full-time. Finally I’m happy. But I wish there’d been someone to help me navigate the
journey. Thankfully, nowadays there is. Cliniq is a friendly, extremely approachable organisation that offers advice, counselling, sexual health and transitioning. They provide, quite simply, a patient, knowledgable, listening ear. Please donate. www.cliniq.org.uk
Margaret Busby
Tomorrow’s Warriors is an innovative jazz music education and artist development organisation that especially nurtures young talent that otherwise would have no chance of entering the industry on a level playing field. And connected with my work as a writer and publisher there’s also the Margaret Busby New Daughters of Africa Award Scholarship ( soas.hubbub.net/p/
Margaretbusby), covering the costs for a woman student from Africa to do a course at SOAS. www.tomorrowswarriors.org