# 2019 Christmas Big Give smashes records to raise £15.6 million in 7 days

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/12/10/2019-christmas-give-smashes-records-to-raise-15-6m-in-7-days/
- Published: 2019-12-10T16:37:56+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**A record-breaking £15.6m has been raised in this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge.**

The Big Give’s [Christmas Challenge](https://www.thebiggive.org.uk/s/christmas-challenge),
which closed at midday today (10 December) saw matched funding of over £7.2 million
provided by over 20 funding champions, including [Reed Foundation](https://careers.reedglobal.com/reed-charity-foundation/),
[The Childhood Trust](https://www.childhoodtrust.org.uk/), [Four Acre Trust](https://www.fouracretrust.org.uk/)
and the [National Lottery Heritage Fund](https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/), and 
through charities’ major donors and philanthropists.

[BBC presenter and actor Alexander Armstrong](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q1KVy8lQEc)
backed the campaign, which was also supported by charity patrons and celebrities
including Hugh Dennis, Gyles Brandreth, Bob Wilson and Clare Balding.

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It ran from 03-10 December and inspired tens of thousands of people to donate with
some 590 charities participating, and donations matched, pound for pound.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Alec Reed CBE, founder of [The Big Give](http://www.thebiggive.org.uk/),
said:

> “The public’s generosity to this year’s Christmas Challenge has been phenomenal.
> It demonstrates just how much the public values the work of UK charities and the
> services they provide. Donations raised through the campaign will address some
> of the most critical issues in society from funding life-saving research to tackling
> climate change.
>  “Match funding has proved to be an incredibly powerful incentive
> to give, enabling the public to maximise their impact on good causes. We’re deeply
> thankful to our funding champions for their crucial role in this campaign and 
> inspiring the nation to give.”

This year’s appeal far exceeds the previous Christmas Challenge record of £13.3 
million in 2018 and brings the total raised since 2007 – when The Big Give launched–
to £129 million.

Having raised over £100,000 through this year’s appeal, [Friends of the Earth](https://friendsoftheearth.uk)’
s Philanthropy Manager, Jo Finburgh underlined the importance of the Christmas Challenge
for the charity:

> “We are completely bowled over by the public’s generosity in response to this 
> year’s Christmas Challenge, with so many people choosing to take action and support
> our Climate Ambition campaign.
>  “Friends of the Earth has taken part in The Big
> Give’s Christmas Challenge for the past 9 years, raising tens of thousands of 
> pounds for our climate change, air pollution and anti-fracking work. We see the
> Christmas Challenge as a fantastic platform to engage our supporters, inspiring
> them to give by enabling them to double their donations toward our vital work.”

Hannah Young, Head of Fundraising at [Unseen UK](https://www.unseenuk.org), said
that funding raised through this year’s campaign will enable the anti-slavery charity
to keep its helpline open.

She commented:

> “There are tens of thousands of victims trapped in slavery across the UK right
> now. Unseen’s Big Give campaign was launched to help save the UK Modern Slavery
> helpline – a lifeline for victims who are trying to escape exploitation. In three
> days, Unseen smashed its target of £75,000, providing critical funding to keep
> the lines open. With over 7,000 potential victims of modern slavery being identified
> through the Helpline each year, Unseen’s Big Give campaign will be a vital part
> of ensuring the Helpline survives.”

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