2020 Big Give Christmas Challenge sees almost double the giving in first 12 hours
Melanie May | 7 December 2020 | News
The public have rallied behind this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge with the first 12 hours seeing them give almost double (48%) the amount donated in the same time period last year, reaching £7.6m.
£1m was also raised in its first 20 minutes on #GivingTuesday last week, and as of 8am on Friday (4 December), 43,000 donations had been made via the Big Give Christmas Challenge website. This is 75% more than last year, while the average donation so far has been £142.
You can help @cornwallairamb with donations being doubled thanks to The Big Give from now until December 8th. Your donation will help seriously injured or ill individuals in their hour of need. Donate now Gx: https://t.co/zgp0HomnTA pic.twitter.com/XbFNkc2TR7
— Gordon Ramsay (@GordonRamsay) December 2, 2020
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This year’s campaign has seen celebrities including Emilia Fox, Gordon Ramsey, Stephen Fry and Will Greenwood take to social media to encourage the public to donate. The Christmas Challenge has been endorsed by over 20 celebrities, including Tom Kerridge, Sir Michael Palin and Dame Darcey Bussell, who feature in the campaign’s video.
[youtube height=”450″width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTO-NsK__Gc&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]
Before the campaign launched the Big Give conducted a nationwide survey, which over 1,000 UK charities took part in. The findings revealed:
- Almost two thirds (63%) of charities reported an average income decrease of 43% this year.
- Two in five (40%) charities expecting an increase in demand for their services over the Christmas period, so it was vital that donations were made in order to meet this demand.
Martha Wood, Fundraising & Marketing Officer, The Bendrigg Trust, which has already beaten its target commented:
“The Big Give Christmas Challenge really did start off with a bang for Bendrigg Trust this year. Within just 3 and a half hours we had already smashed our £10,000 target – it was just unbelievable.
“The generosity of donors this year has blown our minds. After such a turbulent year we were worried that people may not be able to afford to donate as much, but the way the challenge has gone so far, shows that people who are able to help, are giving more than ever before.”
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.