Supporting #GivingTuesday - the global day of giving

On December 1st, the UK will celebrate #GivingTuesday, the global day of giving that asks everyone to show the world why it’s good to give. From making a donation or volunteering to simply spreading the word, it is a call to action for everyone who wants to give something back.

In my role as Minister for Civil Society I am privileged to hear on a daily basis of the generosity and compassion of people across the country, and so it did not surprise me that the CAF World Giving Index 2015 recently found the UK to be the most generous nation in Europe.

#GivingTuesday represents a fantastic opportunity for us all to celebrate and encourage this generosity, and its significant impact in helping others. That’s why I would like to ask you to consider how you might be able to support #GivingTuesday within your constituency.

#GivingTuesday, which spans five continents, follows ‘Black Friday’ and ‘Cyber Monday’, two days that are famous for spikes in high-street and online spending, and encourages a shift to giving.

This inspirational movement continues to grow, building on the success of last year, which saw Blackbaud reporting that donations in the UK had gone up 270% on the year before. It is now backed by over 1,100 partners, including major businesses, charities and a host of other organisations like the National Gallery and London Philharmonic Orchestra. I am proud that Cabinet Office is a founding partner, and I look forward to sharing more details about our plans in the coming weeks.

One of the great strengths of #GivingTuesday is having civil society, the public and private sectors all coming together in support. In that spirit I would be delighted if you would be willing to add your backing, and also encourage your constituents to take part.

You could:

●       become an official supporter of #GivingTuesday by adding your name to the movement: email ktemple@cafonline.org.

●       tweet your support for #GivingTuesday with a photo or, for example, by writing “I am supporting #GivingTuesday! Join me & do something for the causes that matter most to you on December 1st”.

The movement is coordinated in the UK by Charities Aid Foundation and Blackbaud, and as a helping hand, the movement website – http://www.givingtuesday.org.uk/– also provides lots of ideas on ways to get involved.