The News

Posted on:  Thursday, December 18th, 2008 by Jeremy Jackson Styner

Even in these uncertain times, it seems, the season of goodwill still prevails.

Two recent pieces of news disprove those who maintain the first casualty of an economic downturn is charitable giving.

The ethical gift site, Present Aid, reports that sales are up by a staggering 372%, compared to the same period last year.

Christian Aid, one of The Good Agency’s largest Voluntary Sector clients, comfortably expects Present Aid to exceed last year’s total of £2.1 million.

Present Aid’s online catalogue offers a variety of quirky ethical virtual gifts including a duck, a set of paints, a visit to the dentist for tooth extraction, a watering can, and a community tap.

Daniel Charles, head of Present Aid, said: "You might think that with the economy as it is we’d be seeing a decline in the number of people buying ethical gifts like these over the festive period.

"However, from baby buffalo to cans of worms, watering cans to mosquito nets, it seems Brits are shunning socks and soap on a rope in favour of virtual gifts to help people in the developing world".
 

In another Christmas story, the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) found that almost 70% of us Britons would prefer a donation be made to charity rather than be given an unwanted Christmas present.

CAF’s survey showed that 54% of the UK adult population received unwanted Christmas presents in 2007, and 65% of them would prefer one less gift with a donation made to charity instead. Nearly a fifth (18%) received a charity donation on their behalf instead of a Christmas present in 2007.

So maybe, contrary to popular belief, we are not as wrapped up in ourselves at Christmas.
 

http://www.fundraising.co.uk/news/2008/12/09/christian-aid-reports-ethical-gift-sales-372