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

[JustineMumsnet]

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.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Ooh, my friend might be interested in staying there jc - it looks lovely - I'll pass the details on to them both

[MegBusset]

www.leewaysupport.org/

I would like to suggest Leeway, who run three women's refuges in Norfolk. They have helped a close family member and I think they are very deserving of support.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Hey, matching the donations given is a very generous offer Justine, thank-you

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

I think this is a lovely idea. And generous of MNHQ to match. I don't have any suggestions for charities, but would be happy to get involved in the giving side.

The free cakes for kids is lovely - I hadn't thought about the looked after children aspect and that was really moving. All of the other ones mentioned/linked to are also good. Any funds going to local refuge/rape crisis organisations I would also support.

[TallyGrenshall]

Can I nominate Nelsons Journey.

They support bereaved children and young people all over Norfolk and really are fantastic.
www.nelsonsjourney.org.uk/default.aspx

[AuntieStella]

www.ehlers-danlos.org/

There are a few posters with DC with EDS, and there was a long child protection thread about FII which highlighted how many parents are wrongly accused. It's 'zebra' condition (when you hear hoof beats you think horses not zebras) which far too often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for too long.

Another too often unsung organisation which really makes a difference is the Care Leavers Trust.

[tkband3]

I think this is an amazing idea, and it's very generous of MNHQ to match donations. I don't have any suggestions for charities at the moment, but reading about the free cakes for kids charity moved me to tears. I'm out with a couple of friends tonight who are keen bakers (as am I) and am going to suggest setting up a group in our area.

[LostMyPants]

Befriend a Child in Aberdeen.

We are Aberdeen's only 1:1 befriending service for vulnerable children. We match an adult role model with a vulnerable young person in Aberdeen City and the surrounding area, and offer a few hours of befriending each month to increase self esteem and confidence, introduce new interests and offer some much needed fun away from their difficult backgrounds.

m.facebook.com/Befriendachild?_rdr

[FarelyKnuts]

www.amachlgbt.com/resource-centre/

If it stretches to Irish causes can I please nominate this in my home town? We are desperately trying to get funding to get an lgbt resource centre up and running. It is so badly needed for so many reasons but to give just one example, we have a shockingly high suicide rate here and it is estimated to be up to four times higher among the lgbt community. The hope is that a visible and accessible space for people from the community to access services would go some way into reducing that.

[NedSchneebly]

What a lovely idea!

I'd like to nominate the Ectodermal Dysplasia Society //ectodermaldysplasia.org It's the condition which affects the American man who was mocked on Instagram by Shaquille o'Neal. My son has it, and I am a carrier. It's very rare - GPs we've seen have had to google it! It's a small charity, but such a valuable one, which offers support to families affected, and helps fund research into the condition. I would have fallen apart without their support when my beautiful boy was diagnosed.

[MissRee]

I'dlike to nominate the Stacey Mowle appeal. This brave young lady has Neuroblastoma and her family, together with the local community are raising funds to get her further treatment abroad.

You can read more about her story here: www.thestaceymowleappeal.co.uk/1.html

[Mignonette]

I second Free Cakes For Kids. I bake for a local branch of it like Afullroux and it is SUCH a simple and wonderful idea.

[GimmeDaBoobehz]

What an amazing idea.

I'll definitely keep my thinking cap on and see what comes about.

There are some great small charities about.

Definitely will take part in this amazing project.

[AuntieStella]

I'd never heard of the organisation before, but think it sounds wonderful and a good fit for MN (IYSWIM).

[Sunshineonsea]

This is a fantastic idea! I can't think of any specific charities at the moment but will have a think!

[GypsyFloss]

I'd like to nominate The Sick Children's Trust ,who have home from home houses in various hospitals across the country, for parents to stay in whilst their child is in hospital. I visited the Addenbrookes and Rosie sites last year for work and was blown away by not just the homes but the care and support they offer parents at such a challenging time.

[piscivorous]

Can I suggest Blackpool Food Bank please. It is a small local charity run by volunteers, there are no paid staff. It is not part of any of the large trusts as you have to pay fees to belong to them and there is such demand in this area that the funding can be better used feeding people.

Blackpool is one of the most deprived areas of the country. Poverty is increasing steeply in as the tourist trade and visitor spending falters and people, often with pre-existing problems are moved in by other councils due to cheap housing; there are now over 9000 children living in families below poverty line. Over 50% of those in poverty are working as there are problems with seasonal work, low pay, etc so the average weekly wage in this area is £86pw lower than the average for North-West England and £106pw below the UK average

The foodbank works with many different people who are referred after assessment by frontline agencies such as SureStart, CAB, etc; we help families, couples, single people, young and elderly. Last year we supplied around 1200 food parcels this year the demand is far greater. Any help would make a huge difference

afullroux What a lovely cause

MN great idea!

[EauRouge]

I'd like to nominate the Birth Trauma Association.

[JulesJules]

I think it's a great idea.

So many brilliant suggestions. The first one I clicked on was Free Cakes for Kids and I'm already reaching for the tissues

[SpottieDottie]

I'd like to nominate Asthma UK so they can get more support to do raising awareness of asthma in schools and providing information for parents of children who are newly diagnosed with asthma.

[kinkytoes]

Wonderful idea and very generous of MN to match.

Just a suggestion but if the aim is to help smaller local causes then maybe you could select two or three? It would encourage donations from a broader spread of people if the locations and areas of benefit were varied, and smaller charities would be just as grateful for a slice of a huge pie as they would for the whole thing. If you see what I mean.

Also think it'd be great if the cause(s) chosen had a definite link to MN. For example a MNer has benefited directly from said charity thanks to the advice of another?

[Titsalinabumsquash]

these are the people I mentioned earlier.

Another lovely one that has caused us endless smiles is Postpals,

There is noting that cheers DS up more than a big pile of cards and letters turning up at the hospital for him, they are also great at making DS2 feel included with his own special post. :)

//xwww.postpals.co.uk

[Titsalinabumsquash]

Sorry //www.postpals.co.uk right link!

[Bicnod]

What a fab idea... and thank you for match-funding MNHQ.

I have a question - is it only UK charities/groups or can we nominate organisations working overseas as well?

There's a fantastic organisation called Women and Children First which focuses on reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia.

They are brilliant and seem like a pretty relevant cause for Mumsnet to get behind