What / Which is your favourite charity and why?

As pp, for sadly similar reasons, SANDS

Local football team food bank

Air Ambulance.

Unfortunately, I'm much more wary of charities these days and try to look into whether they are decent or not for lots of reasons.

Having worked for a large UK charity, they’re the very last people I would give to - the amount of wasted money is incredible.

I do give to Advantage Africa, a very small charity doing much needed work using indigenous workers rather than having a huge ex-pat workforce, with the associated wage bill.

RNLI and Air Ambulance. It's hard to believe that these two emergency services that save so many lives are paid for out of voluntary contributions and not by government funds.

Definitely not huge corporations like the Salvation Army.

Definitely yes to small grassroots direct action eg local food banks, animal rescue and help for the old and mentally ill.

Small and local = charities, not Amazon-style conglomerates or lobbying groups that don’t deliver anything.

Breast Cancer Care because they were fantastic to me when I had breast cancer. Also mcmillan, for the same reason.

Air ambulance. a great cause , and many good people work for them

The Equality Trust, because it's the all encompassing issue of our times, and Woodland Trust, because it's best bang for buck on climate change.

I volunteer for the Cinnamon Trust which connects elderly or housebound dog owners with people who volunteer to walk their much loved dogs for them.
And my local FoodBank charity who supply food to those who can't afford to feed themselves.

RNLI. I know they are huge and benefit a lot from legacies, but I'm amazed there is no central funding. Mind you they would probably be leaving desperate people to die in the Channel if the government controlled their purse strings.

Locally, Butterflies Haven- a charity providing youth clubs for children with autism. Talking Money- a Bristol based charity providing debt and benefits advice.

Nationally, Cancer Research UK.

Thanks for your reply @AnotherEmma - keep up the good work!

I'd suggest supporting your local hospice.
They do amazing work supporting people in their homes & also in residence in the hospice
Hospice care is not always for end of life, its can also be to sort out pain management & other issues.
Hospices are not solely for cancer support but for life limiting health issues & end of life.

I know all this because, sadly, over the year my family has had hospice involvement in a much loved family members care & death.
The care they, and we the family, received was outstanding & they are primarily funded by donations, not state health care funding.

Red Cross. I used to work for them and they do amazing work.

SANDS - stillborn and neonatal death, they were a great help to me in the days when you couldn't talk about these things
Young Minds - reassured me I was doing my best when DD made several suicide attempts
Local hospice - for so many friends and family

Brain tumour charity also Cats Protection and MSF

Action for Young Carers, who support children who have caring responsibilities.

Dentaid - I have had terrible problems with my gums and teeth over the years and been in that special level of pain that toothache brings. Luckily I have can afford private dental care but do many people can't and have to suffer with the pain becatse trying ti get an NHS dentist is like trying to find gold dust. Dentaid have mobile dental surgeries that go out into areas where people can’t afford to pay for dentistry as well as working with homeless people.

Childline. I’m a volunteer counsellor and being a counsellor or donating means children and young people can always be supported. Anyone interested can look on the NSPCC website and see if there are opportunities in their area….. it can be difficult, but we are all really well supported and it’s the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

Children's hospice association Scotland (CHAS)

Coram - they are a fantastic organisation that really makes a difference in childrens' lives. I know them very well and they are excellent.

Medecins sans Frontiers - much needed work. I know someone who worked for them and she only speaks highly of them.

Yes, agree!! It beggars belief that it's not centrally funded (mind you, could be said for most charities!!).

Plus, an amazing local hospice who have nursed many friends and colleagues

Medicine Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders). They do amazing work.

Plus I once saw a breakdown of top charities and % of donations which actually went to the cause (as apposed to staff salaries, office rents, etc). MSF ranked the highest, with 80% of all donations going on medical care. Most big charities are more like 20-60% that actually gets spent on the cause.

I really like the work of Medecins sans Frontieres. They help ordinary people caught in the crossfire in wars around the world.
Closer to home, I'd always want to support my local women's refuge for the lifeline they give to desperate families.