The gift of giving
These charity champions are filled with the Christmas spirit, choosing organisations that get help to those who need it most
Jenni Murray
I am a firm supporter of the not-forprofit Dignity in Dying, which fights to give terminally ill people the choice to die on their own terms, a right supported by the overwhelming majority of the public and no doubt many readers of this magazine.
I became convinced of the need for an assisted dying law after witnessing my own parents’ deaths.
Both would have been comforted by the option to die swiftly and peacefully at a time and place of their choosing, and it would have soothed my own grief to know they died with ease and dignity. dignityindying.org.uk
Joanna Lumley
I suggest Help for Forgotten
Allies, a charity which supports the surviving veterans and widows of the Burmese Army who fought alongside our allied forces in South-east Asia during the Second World War. The hill peoples of Burma/myanmar, the Karen, Chin and Kachin, were particularly brave and deserve to be remembered, especially in the UK. h4fa.org.uk
Nicholas Owen
The Children’s Trust gives children and young people with brain injury and neurodisability the opportunity to live the best life possible. Every year in the UK, 40,000 children are left with a brain injury as a result of an accident or illness. They may not be able to walk, talk, stand, sit or feed themselves. Some lose all of those abilities.
The Children’s Trust aims to help rebuild as many of their skills as possible through play, exploration, laughter and having fun; things that are often lost when a child has limited mobility or other challenges.
Each year, the charity needs to raise over £8 million to run vital services for children with brain injury, and help reach out to more children and families across the UK. thechildrenstrust.org.uk
Henry Blofeld
Chance to Shine, founded primarily by Mervyn King when he was Governor of the Bank of England, makes the game available to youngsters who would not normally have had the chance to play cricket.
The charity has brought cricket to thousands living in sink estates in our inner cities. King’s own persuasive charm, determination and the dynamic ambassadors he has attracted have been crucially important to its success.
The most notable have been the former England captains, the eternally enthusiastic Mike Gatting and Heather Knight, the captain of the England ladies side.
Another celebrated ambassador has been one of the game’s supreme advocates, that superb television commentator, Mark Nicholas.
Chance to Shine deserves and needs every penny that comes its way. chancetoshine.org
Kate Adie
I’m aware that my dog hears much better than I do, having lived with being ‘a bit deaf’ all my life. But ‘a bit deaf’ is very different to living in an almost silent world.
For deaf people, often faced with loneliness and isolation, there’s an enormous change to their lives – more independence, more safety, less stress – when a trained Hearing Dog joins them, alerting them to everyday sounds and situations. And there’s the companionship. A wagging tail, a paw on your knee, means you’re not on your own.
Training takes substantial time and money, but every Hearing Puppy learns to connect in a special way: to bring confidence and support. Every Hearing Dog is a life-line – and loveable. hearingdogs.org.uk
Loyd Grossman
I’d like to bring your attention to two charities - one national and the other very local - that simply and effectively address the big problem of wasted talent and unrealised potential.
I am a great fan and long term supporter of Give a Book, set up in memory of the late playwright Simon Gray. The charity gives books to prisons and schools in high deprivation areas. The other charity is Campden
Edge, based in the Cotswolds, which helps fund the arts education of 8 to 26-year-olds who can’t afford such opportunities. With a declining emphasis on the arts in schools, local charities like this are helping to keep the arts alive for everyone. giveabook.org.uk campdenedge.org
Dr Jane Goodall,
DBE, UN Messenger of Peace Climate change is related to the choices we make and there’s no question that we humans have had an
enormous impact on the gradual heating of the planet. I first established The Jane
Goodall Institute in 1977 and it now has offices in 24 countries around the globe, working to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment we all share. Through empowering local communities, JGI is tackling the problems damaging our planet and educating new generations to become better citizens to ensure a sustainable future for all life on Earth. My greatest hope is our young people. Thirty years ago, I created ‘Roots & Shoots’, JGI’S humanitarian and environmental programme for young people of all ages, now active in more than 60 countries to develop the compassionate change-makers our world needs. janegoodall.org.uk
Julian Fellowes
The Lord Kitchener National
Memorial Fund is a charity set up in memory of Lord Kitchener, to grant scholarships to originally the sons, but now the sons and daughters, of those who have served in the forces, to increase their chances of higher education. These are valuable to the students as they do not have to be paid back, and can be very helpful to would-be students from disadvantaged backgrounds. lknmf.com
Anneka Rice
As an ambassador for the end-of-life charity, Marie Curie, I’ve seen first-hand the important work they do for people experiencing death, dying and bereavement.
I wish I had known about support available from Marie Curie when I was caring for my two elderly parents, who both had dementia.
From campaigning to ensure proper support is available for everyone at end of life, through to providing nursing care at home and in their nine hospices across the UK, to providing a listening ear and round the clock advice through their Information and Support Line, Marie Curie really do make a difference for so many people at a time when they need it most. mariecurie.org.uk
Maureen Lipman
The brainchild of Josephine Segal and Vanessa Crocker, Spread a
Smile is a small charity devoted to providing entertainment and enjoyment to children in long-term hospital care.
Spread a Smile send gifts, treats and surprises alongside actual magicians, musicians, fairies, artists and therapy dogs to break up the monotonous days and distract from the sometimes painful or invasive treatments.
Heidi Nathan works for the charity and compiled a book to which I contributed, called This Book Is
Toast, all in aid of Spread a Smile. spreadasmile.org/toast
Delia Smith
It’s a personal thing but, for me, out of the continuing flow of harrowing nightly news bulletins, what pierces my emotions more deeply than anything is the plight of refugees.
In 1933, in America, two of my personal heroes, Albert Einstein and educational reformer and philosopher John Dewey, along with 50 people of influence formed a group to try and assist Germans fleeing from Hitler and, soon after, those from other countries escaping fascism.
Out of that, a very significant charity began to emerge called the International Rescue Committee, whose sole purpose was to assist refugees. This is now beyond anything that small original group could have imagined. It has operations around the world, giving untold help to refugees everywhere. And overseen by another of my heroes the President, David Miliband. So an absolute no-brainer. rescue-uk.org
Geoff Hurst
It’s more than half-a-century after I walked up the steps to the Royal Box at Wembley Stadium, where our Queen handed over the World Cup to Bobby Moore. I invoke the memories of that momentous day – which are still fresh in my mind – because too many members of that special team have been affected by dementia.
They’ve inspired me to raise awareness of dementia, which is why I’ve supported Alzheimer’s
Society for a quite a few years now, taking part in Memory Walks and becoming a Champion for the charity’s Sport United Against Dementia campaign, which will use the power of sport to change lives for the better in the sporting community.
The work of the Alzheimer’s Society is especially important over Christmas, one of the hardest times of the year for people affected by dementia. alzheimers.org.uk
Leslie Caron
I’m keenly aware that there are many communities whose organisations suffer from a lack of financial support. I believe education is the key to helping families best raise their children, feed them sensibly, encourage sports and allow them to grow into who they want to be. I support Save the Children because they focus on great education, good food and medicine to help children thrive regardless of their situations. savethechildren.org.uk