National newspapers announce Christmas appeal beneficiaries
Howard Lake | 1 December 2011 | News
National newspapers have announced the charities that will benefit from their annual Christmas appeal to readers.
The Times
The Times has chosen three charities: Alzheimer’s Society, War Child, and Greenhouse. A letter from the Editor today explained: “This year we have chosen to support three charities that operate in areas that have featured prominently in the news in 2011.”
According to the newspaper, “readers have shown a distinct preference for practical and innovative charities which find often simple solutions for tough humanitarian challenges”.
Tesco will match donations to The Alzheimer’s Society to a maximum of £30,000. The charity is the supermarket chain’s charity of the year. Deutsche Bank will match donations to War Child to a maximum of £10,000.
Last year’s appeal raised over £700,000.
The appeal uses the services of the Charities Trust and online donations are handled by Paythru.
The newspaper sought readers’ suggestions for beneficiary charities on 25 July 2011, so it is likely that next year’s request will be made around the same time and closing around 3 September 2012.
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is supporting Beatbullying. The Duke of Cambridge commented on the choice, saying: “Catherine and I are delighted that the Sunday Times has chosen Beatbullying for its Christmas Appeal. This is a charity that makes a positive and lasting change to hundreds of thousands of young lives.”
Online donations are handled by Beatbullying.
Nominet Trust has already begun the appeal by pledging £50,000, and ICAP will match fund donations up to £100,000.
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The Telegraph
The Telegraph is supporting the Riding for the Disabled Association, SkillForce and AfriKids. Last year’s appeal raised over £850,000. This year it is encouraging readers to tweet about the appeal using the #telegraphappeal hashtag.
The online donations are administered by Charities Trust and handled by Paythru.
The Guardian and The Observer
The Guardian and The Observer have chosen eight charities that work with marginalised young people in the UK. They are Magic Me, Tomorrow’s People, Fare, St Giles Trust, The Boxing Academy, Just for Kids Law, Street League and Community Links.
The newspapers’ appeal partners are New Philanthropy Capital and The Media Trust.
The Daily Mirror
The Daily Mirror has chosen Age UK and its Spread The Warmth campaign for its Christmas appeal. It is encouraging readers to donate winter coats, and celebrities’ donated coats will be auctioned to raise funds.
The Independent on Sunday
The Independent on Sunday has chosen medical emergency relief charity Merlin. Online donations are handled by Merlin itself.
Other Christmas appeals
BBC Radio 4 is running its 85th annual appeal on behalf of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Online donations can be made via Bmycharity. BBC Radio 4 appeals have their own Facebook page.
Any more?
Have we missed any other national appeals? We can also list regional newspaper or other media (e.g. radio stations’) Christmas appeals if you send the details.
Update: 3 December 2011
Thank you for the comments below. In response here is a further newspaper appeal.
The Financial Times
The Financial Times has chosen Sight Savers for its annual seasonal appeal. As reported last month (FT Seasonal Appeal for Sightsavers to benefit from two matched giving programmes), Standard Chartered and the UK Government will each double the value of donations from UK readers to the appeal.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.