Established in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly, International Day of Charity is observed every year on the 5th of September.
The main purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the work undertaken by charities across the world. It provides a platform for individuals and organisations to share their charitable causes and to raise awareness and assistance.
Originating in Hungary in 2011, the day was initially a civil society initiative to encourage social responsibility and to increase public support for charitable causes. The date of the 5th of September was chosen as it is the anniversary of the death of Mother Theresa. She was known for her charitable work to help the sick and to alleviate poverty. After Hungary submitted a proposal to the UN General Assembly in 2012, 44 member states agreed to adopt the movement as an International Day.
International Day of Charity is important as it gives us all a reason to stop and think about the social and charitable work that is going on around us. It serves as a reminder to give back and help out. It is important that we take the opportunity to refocus and bring our attention to those less fortunate than ourselves and take the opportunity to help if we can.
The day also gives a voice to causes that we may not have heard of by giving them a platform. We are all aware of the big charities like Oxfam and Cancer Research, but what is going on closer to your home, at a local level? By giving these smaller causes a platform, it is possible to bring attention to them and therefore increase their chances of funding and assistance.
So, how can you get involved? If you already have a charity or cause in mind, take a look at their website to see if they have any fundraising events coming up that you could get involved with. They might be looking for volunteers or you could attend and help them raise money. Keep an eye on social media on the 5th of September and look out for hashtags such as #InternationalDayofCharity2022 or #IDC22 etc.
If you do choose to make a donation to a charity, remember to Gift Aid it. If you are a UK tax payer, you can add Gift Aid which means that the charity can claim back an extra 25p per £1 of your donation from HMRC. This doesn’t cost you anything but helps to boost your donation.
It might have been at the back of your mind for a while to find a charity to donate to – use this blog post as a very gentle nudge. Remember that charities are grateful for any donation that they receive, no donation will be considered too small.
It is important to take professional advice before making any decision relating to your personal finances. Information within this article does not provide individual tailored investment advice and is for guidance only. We cannot assume legal liability for any errors or omissions it might contain. Ethical Futures llp is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.