Britons are being encouraged to text donations to charitable causes for the UK’s first Giving Tuesday.
Started in the US in 2012, the campaign acts as an antidote to pre-Christmas consumerism by promoting charities and other worthy causes. People and businesses are asked to give money or time to help others, by giving instead of shopping for just one day in the festive period.
With the hashtag #GivingTuesday trending on social media, many charities are asking for donations by the medium of text. The RNIB is one of these, running a #passtheparcel tweeting campaign to offer givers who donate £3 by text and re-tweet a related message on Twitter the chance to enter a prize draw.
Other charities are also on board: Age UK is asking the UK to donate a coat on Twitter with the hashtag #donateacoat by sending £3 by text, and The Prince’s Trust are also asking for £3 by texting TRUST.
In 2013, US online donations to charity increased by 90 per cent on Giving Tuesday compared to the previous year. The campaign has seen 550 UK companies and charities sign up, and the event is spreading across the world with Canada, Singapore, Mexico and Israel all taking part, theguardian.com notes.
The day coincides with ITV’s annual charity appeal Text Santa, which supports six UK based charities. The broadcasting event features celebrities including Phillip Schofield, Ant and Dec and Paddy McGuinness, reports itv.com.
