Festive appeals: Five London charities to support this Christmas

This Christmas people are needing help more than ever, with the £20 a week cut to universal credit and the increased energy price cap.

As Londoners make a start to their Christmas shopping and festive preparations, it’s important to remember those who have found themselves in difficult circumstances.

Many of us wish to donate to charities but aren’t sure of where to find local good causes or how best to support them.

To help point you in the right direction, we’ve rounded up five London based charities in need of support and donations this Christmas.

Wrap Up London

Every November, Wrap Up London brings together hundreds of Londoners to collect, sort and distribute coats to charities and projects supporting service users.

For those of you with unworn coats taking up space in your wardrobe, why not donate them to keep someone warm this winter.

There are several pop-up coat collection points running throughout the city till November 28.

The main drop off points include the Hoxton hotels in Shoreditch, Southwark and Holborn and several Safestore Self Storage branches across the city.

The charity is also looking for volunteer drivers and community collectors to help support the project.

Refugee Community Kitchen

The Refugee Community Kitchen has been serving nutritious meals to refugees and Londoners experiencing homelessness since 2016.

The charity uses surplus food to serve healthy meals to people irrespective of their situation and needs.

Weekly services run across the city in areas including Camden, Archway, Old Street, Brixton and Hackney.

To support the Refugee Community Kitchen this Christmas, you can donate to the charity, join as a volunteer or buy a gift online.

The 2022 RCK recipe calendar is now available to pre-order online, along with branded hoodies, t-shirts and tote bags.

Whitechapel Mission

Whitechapel Mission has been helping Londoners help the homeless since 1876, including during Christmas time and offers a DayCentre, food, showers, advice services, computing and clothing.

The charity will be open every day through this winter and is expecting to serve hundreds of hot meals every day.

As part of their winter appeal, the Whitechapel Mission is collecting donations to help buy food, clothes, hygiene kits, sleeping bags and life skills classes.

GOSH Christmas Stocking Appeal

Every child should have the chance to be at home with their families for Christmas Day.

By donating to Great Ormond St Children’s Hospital Charity you can make a huge difference in helping fund vital resources that GOSH needs to get seriously ill children back home as quickly as possible.

For those children whose treatment needs to continue over the festive season, your support can help bring Christmas to the hospital and make it feel like a home from home.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home

Last year, 200 dogs and 100 cats needed help over Christmas.

Staff and volunteers at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home forgo their celebrations to ensure their rescue animals are properly cared for and each animal even gets their own present on Christmas Day.

You can help make sure every animal is cared for this festive season by donating to Battersea’s Christmas Appeal.