Most Christmas stockings are stuffed with a load of unwanted tat so why not consider a charity gift - small charity gifts is a really thoughtful and meaningful Christmas present. We certainly love the idea of using Christmas gifts to give back to the community.

We looked at 3 local charities which help those in need over Christmas and thought a lovely idea would be to give a gift to one of these wonderful charities in someone’s name. Donate whatever you might spend on a gift £5/£10/£20 and then you can download one of the printable ‘meaningful’ cards we have created for you to give to the recipient.

Deck the wards - gift box

About the charity: Deck the wards is a charity that gives gift boxes full of small ‘luxuries’ and home comforts to children and young people who are spending time in psychiatric inpatient care over the Christmas holidays. These are children experiencing a serious mental health crisis that cannot be managed in the community. Some young people will be detained under the Mental Health Act and may have very limited leave from the hospital. Spending time in hospital over the holidays can be extremely hard for anyone, let alone a young person who is experiencing a mental health crisis and may be away from family and friends over Christmas.

What you give: A donation to help Deck the Wards fill their gift boxes!

What they do with your donation: Deck the wards aims to bring a few home comforts and gifts to these children. Deck the wards are currently working with four local units in South East London, by delivering gift boxes which include books, games, seasonal decorations, treats, luxury toiletries, arts and craft supplies which have been paid for by generous donations (you can find out more about the boxes here).

A meaningful gift: Donate here and then download our printable gift card/e-card to show the recipient you made a charitable and meaningful gift donation in their name.

How it will help: Your gift could bring a smile to the face of a child suffering from a very difficult period in their life.

Southwark People Care Association - Xmas party!

About the charity: Southwark People Care Association is a volunteer-run charity that works with the elderly in Southwark, helping to relieve loneliness, depression and social isolation at Christmas by hosting an annual Christmas Day party. This time of year can be particularly hard for people on their own - in Southwark alone, there are 5,000 elderly people living by themselves, with 3,000 of them suffering from depression.

What you give: A donation to help pay for premises, meals, minibus drivers, decorations and prizes for their annual Christmas Day Party!

What they do with your donation: On Christmas Day they open their doors at 11 am and help everyone get in the festive mood! They serve a lovely Christmas dinner at 1 pm - there is a choice of traditional turkey with all the trimmings, lamb or vegetarian alternative (there are also Caribbean, Asian, diabetic or liquidised alternatives). Of course, there will also be a Christmas pudding and guests will even get a light tea in a takeaway box and a grocery voucher so they can choose something to have in the next few days. They will also be providing lots of festive entertainment including free raffle with lots of prizes.

SPCA also provides free transport to and from the venue for any guests living in the London Borough of Southwark.

A meaningful gift: Donate here and download our printable gift card/e-card to show the recipient you made a charitable and meaningful gift donation in their name.

How it will help: You will be helping someone elderly in your community celebrate Christmas surrounded by lots of people, someone who may otherwise have spent it alone.

Robes - a warm bed over Xmas

About the charity: Robes is a charity that operates across Southwark and Lambeth to provide shelter for people who find themselves homeless in London especially over the winter months, which is why they run Winter Shelter, which is open from November - April. Enabling people who find themselves on the streets a warm bed for the night. They work with 30 or so churches and 1000 volunteers to offer warm beds, meals and hot drinks for anyone who needs it. They also try and help their guests rebuild their lives, through specialist advice and support.

What you give: Your donation will go towards the running of the Winter Shelter - which runs between November - April.

What they do with your donation: You donation will help the charity provide beds, meals, warm drinks for homeless people across Southwark and Lambeth.

A meaningful gift: Donate here and download our printable gift card/e-card to show the recipient you made a charitable and meaningful gift donation in their name

How it will help: You will help a homeless person have a warm bed over Xmas

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Ideas of how to gift your ‘Meaningful Gift Card’

Download our printable card templates (links below), print it off and handwrite if you want it to feel like a ‘gift’, you can pop it in a nice envelope and tie with a ribbon!

If you want to save paper / unable to hand-deliver then attach the PDF to an email and send a virtual gift!

Download Deck the wards card| Download Southwark People Care Association card |Download Robes card

*this is not in partnerships with any charities. We have designed these ‘gift cards’ independently as a gift idea.