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We’d like to try a Mumsnet Giving week - tell us your thoughts/ which projects you'd like to support

278 replies

JustineMumsnet · 02/05/2014 11:08

Now then: without wanting to gush, one of the great pleasures of toiling at Mumsnet is watching how much you all give to one another - in terms of advice, humour and friendship, obviously, but very often in material ways, too.

Over the years, we've made a few ad hoc donations to causes and charities close to Mumsnetters' hearts, but I've been pondering how we might formalise the goodwill and try to do a bit more. And I thought it might be an idea to give a Mumsnet Giving Week a go.

Here's how it could work... (and do bear in mind that this is a first pass and we're very much open to suggestions on how to improve/refine the idea; if it works well, we'd like to make it an annual event). Together, we settle on some deserving causes that could do with our collective support: maybe you're trying to bring a community garden back into bloom, for example, or want to start a support group for parents of children with SEN, or are trying to raise funds to buy a piece of vital equipment for a good cause. Or there might simply be a deserving small charity that you want to support.

Once we've agreed who we'd like to back, we'll then have a week in which we promote and highlight them, and in which Mumsnetters can donate as much or as little as they choose, via a Yimby crowdfunding page (here's a bit more about Yimby.com, a new crowdfunding community for social good).

At the end of the week, MNHQ will match your donations (although I think we'll have to set a £25k limit for match funding, just in case one of you turns out to be Bill Gates and drops a million - which of course would be marvellous, but would also leave us struggling to meet the payroll).

If this all sounds ok to you, we'd like your suggestions for projects we should support on this thread. They don't have to be registered charities; indeed, our feeling is that national charities don't tend to struggle for exposure and are probably not in most need of our support. Instead, we'd love to use this as an opportunity to give smaller organisations and community projects some airtime. And because we also want to make sure that the causes are ones that existing Mumsnetters have settled on, we're only going to shortlist projects suggested by members who are registered as of now. (Apologies to newbies who join after this point, but there's always next year.)

After this thread's been up for a bit, we'll go through it, pick a shortlist of five and ask the Mumsnetters who submitted the ideas to start a Yimby crowdfunding page in support of them. We'll then - with much fanfare - announce the start of the Giving Week, during which we'll encourage everyone to donate. And at the end of the week, we'll match what's raised.

Do hope you think this is a good idea - please shout if you think it's lousy or we've missed a trick... Otherwise, please submit your nominations for deserving projects below.

We’d like to try a Mumsnet Giving week - tell us your thoughts/ which projects you'd like to support
OP posts:
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IamtheZombie · 02/05/2014 11:14

What an excellent idea, Justine. Zombie will put her thinking cap on and return later with a suggestion or two.

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nameuschangeus · 02/05/2014 11:48

I'd like to nominate Ellie's Fund for research into brain tumours. Read up here: www.elliesfund.com
Ellie was an inspiration to many people locally to me and, despite being ill herself, raised a lot of money for her cause. Since her death her family have carried on in her name.
Please have a look at the website.

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mypussyiscalledCaramel · 02/05/2014 11:51

What about highlighting Motor Neurone Disease.

I know its not necessarily a small charity, but not many people are aware of the disease and its affects on everybody.

Also because its incurable at the moment they need funding to help find a cure.

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glenthebattleostrich · 02/05/2014 12:45

Women's aid and rape crisis get my vote.

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glenthebattleostrich · 02/05/2014 12:47

Sorry just reread and saw the local small bit. How about donating to smaller women's shelters? Is that doable?

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TakeMeUpTheNorthMountain · 02/05/2014 12:47

Would you support an Irish one? Or is it just Uk? My friends run iCAN for children with arthritis. Tbey desp need money for funding fun days, family support meetings and funding a juvenule arthritis room in the main hospital.All children in ireland have to travel to one hospital for treatment, children as young as two and they haven't even a room.eWe have the second worst health record for kids with JIA and there is currently currently a nearly three year wait list to see a consultant. Im a JIA kid from 30 years ago and nothing has changed here.

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TakeMeUpTheNorthMountain · 02/05/2014 12:50

This is very much a small project but very deserving too. The kids nevet get noticed, its almost as if people disbelieve it. But KIDS GET ARTHRITIS TOO!!

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FatalCabbage · 02/05/2014 12:59

I think Giving Week sounds like a great idea.

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BewitchedBotheredandBewildered · 02/05/2014 13:16

Woolly Hugs !

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HerrenaHarridan · 02/05/2014 13:24

I think this is a really good idea. I'm too emotional to think about it at the minute but wanted it chime in.

I'm pleased you are aiming to support small local stuff and think that the format you suggest sounds fair

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BIWI · 02/05/2014 13:31

Great idea

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afullroux · 02/05/2014 13:53

Oh, please consider Free Cakes for Kids. Volunteers who like baking make free homemade birthday cakes for children whose families find it hard to provide one - maybe because of poverty, illness, homelessness etc. Children are referred by social workers, schools, food banks and charities. Cakes are usually given direct to the parents so they can give the cake to their child, and sometimes children get the cakes at school too.

Disclaimer: I volunteer at the Sheffield group. BUT there are groups all over the UK - over 80 in towns and cities all over the country and the national group (Free Cakes UK) oversee it all. We have made cakes for 1-18 year olds - the ones that really make me emotional are those who are leaving care on their 18th birthday and sometimes it's the first cake they've ever had.

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Makemineapintofrioja · 02/05/2014 13:59

if an Eu project is allowed, there is "Care for Kim", trying to raise funds to bring a 14 year old girl in a coma home to be cared for. She was the victim of a car accident last year and her parents need money to bring her home for her care because the insurance wont pay.

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SteadyEddie · 02/05/2014 14:01
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FatalCabbage · 02/05/2014 14:37

afullroux I just wailed out loud. That's just beautiful Thanks

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Titsalinabumsquash · 02/05/2014 14:46

I'd like to nominate the Sussex Smowdrop Trust, I think us surviving as a family for the last 7 years since DS's diagnosis is down to them. They are fab at taking into account the grey scale, they realise that siblings of poorly children find it hard, that parents struggle sometimes. They're there every step of the way and I could never repay them, they help families with poorly children in the local community and allow them to stay at home for care rather than leave everything to busy hospitals.

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Titsalinabumsquash · 02/05/2014 14:47

Sigh, auto correct!

The Sussex Snowdrop Trust Thanks

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afullroux · 02/05/2014 15:01

I know FatalCabbage. I've sat in my car wailing twice now after deliveries.

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SarahMumsnet · 02/05/2014 15:03

Hey folks, Justine's out at the minute, so just wanted to hop on in her absence to say really glad you think it's a good idea. Thanks so much for the suggestions; reading through has reduced me to tears - and we're only a few hours in... Do please keep them coming, and if someone else posts about a project/cause you'd like to get behind, then say that too - it'll help clarify things when we come to the process of choosing.

Thanks again, and have lovely weekend Flowers

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MrsRTea · 02/05/2014 15:05

Great idea. Fantastic.

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JugglingFromHereToThere · 02/05/2014 15:36

Could we support "Hope UK" - which is a national charity providing drug and alcohol education and training for children, young people, parents and youth workers.

Our young people really need to know more to equip them to handle today's society. It's personal to me but I can't really say more.

(Or, if it needs to be smaller local charities can we at least choose one addressing these challenges - thank-you Thanks)

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ilovemonstersInc · 02/05/2014 15:42

I would like to nominate children hospital charities. In particular Sheffield childrens hospital. Or them clown drs. They say play is the best medicine and all those ill children would benefit.
My ds has been in hospital numerous times and different hospitals too. One hospital had clown drs come round the wards, another didn't.

Cant think of anything else that I would like to nominate I think if investing in some toys, games etc for the hospitals and giving them out (could generate good publicity and hopefully generate more donations) but more importantly the things you provide the hospitals with will last a few years hopefully helping a lot of children through ill health.

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JustSquirted · 02/05/2014 15:49

Brilliant idea.

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rainbowqueen · 02/05/2014 16:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jcscot · 02/05/2014 16:07

May I suggest Leuchie House? It's a centre providing first class respite for sufferers of MS, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson's Disease and similar illnesses/conditions. It's the only one of its kind in the Scotland and is a worthy charity. My father just had a respite break there and absolutely raved about the care and dedication of the staff and my mother was able to rest and have a holiday, knowing that my father was being looked after so well.

www.leuchiehouse.org.uk/

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