As is tradition, news brands are using their campaigning journalism platform for the power of good across society. Take a look at how news publishers are aiming to help those in need this festive season
This year, The Express’s Christmas fundraising appeal is in partnership with Whizz Kidz, the UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users. The demand for wheelchairs and mobility equipment has become overwhelming, with thousands of children in danger of missing out on independence due to the long wait for life-changing wheelchairs. The appeal is calling for readers to support ‘Give the Gift of Childhood’ this Christmas; £80,000 has been raised so far by the Express’s audience.
Reach stablemate The Mirror’s festive campaign raises vital funds for Lifelites, enabling more children with life-limiting conditions to experience joy this Christmas. Lifelites provide seriously ill and disabled children the chance to play, create and communicate using the power of assistive and sensory technology. Readers are encouraged to support the campaign, as 100,000 children in the UK have life-limiting conditions. 15,000 currently have access to Lifelites life-changing technology but a large number are still without.
The Daily Star’s appeal calls for rugby league star Kevin Sinfield to be awarded a knighthood, in recognition of his extraordinary efforts for Motor Neurone Disease. Since the passing of the beloved rugby league legend Rob Burrow CBE, Sinfield has repeatedly undertaken great physical challenges, most recently being the “7 in 7: Together” campaign where he plans to run seven ultra-marathons in seven days across the UK and Ireland.
Elsewhere, The Times and The Sunday Times Christmas appeal aims to fundraise for three chosen charities this year; Switchback, Kissing it Better, and World Bicycle Relief.
Switchback provides mentoring and practical education to msale prisoners re-entering society. The initiative has supported over 2,000 young men, seeing 91% not reoffending within a year and 56% able to succeed in long-term work, education and further training. Kissing it Better brings young people into hospitals, care homes and the community to work and socialise with lonely older people, in hope to forge intergenerational bonds and end Britain’s loneliness crisis.
World Bicycle Relief, the charity was founded in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami, distributing more than 24,000 bicycles to displaced survivors in Sri Lanka to enable them to access education, healthcare and livelihoods.
Meanwhile, The Sun is partnering with Tesco to help families struggling with food costs this winter. Readers are encouraged to leave food at donation points in Tesco stores across the UK, supporting two leading hunger charities: Trussell and FareShare. Demand surges in winter as households face higher bills, with FareShare alone set to provide over 40 million meals.
Elsewhere, The Telegraph is supporting four charities: Motor Neurone Disease Association, Prostate Cancer Research, Canine Partners and The Not Forgotten.
Motor Neurone Disease Association provides practical help, emotional support, and funds research aimed at finding a cure. Prostate Cancer Research funds vital research into prostate cancer and offers information, support and advocacy for men and their families. Thirdly, there’s Canine Partners, a programme that trains and matches assistance dogs with people living with physical disabilities. Lastly, The Not Forgotten is a charity for veterans and serving personnel, aiming to help those living with injury, illness or isolation.
The Standard is focussing on supporting the homeless, people suffering food insecurity, and refugees forced to flee their homes in its partnership with Comic Relief. The campaign shares stories of people who have overcome homelessness, or fled their childhood homes with nothing however, the charity is at hand to help rebuild lives
Last but not least, The i Paper teams up with Young Lives vs Cancer in its ‘A Home for Christmas’ appeal. The charity supports young people with cancer and their families, making sure that the right support is available at the right time.
Running ten accommodation centres, known as “Homes from Home”, around the country, offering young people and their families a free and comfortable place to stay near a hospital to ease the financial burden of travel and help keep families together during treatment.
As donations come in and appeals develop, keep an eye on this page for more updates over the Christmas period
