SVP launches Giving Tuesday campaign

Source: SVP

A secret benefactor has promised to match, pound-for-pound, any donation made to the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) on Giving Tuesday.

Giving Tuesday, which this year takes place on 1 December, has become a worldwide fundraising phenomenon since its launch in 2012, and currently holds the world record for the most money raised online for charity in 24 hours.

The campaign, which is supported by Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Michelle Obama, Stephen Fry, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, among others, raised over £14.2 million for UK causes last year. It is widely seen as a compassionate counterpoint to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The SVP's own national campaign, Rise to the Challenge, has been chosen to spearhead the Society's Giving Tuesday push, with funds going towards its Covid-19 Recovery Programme. ITV newscaster Julie Etchingham, who is a patron of the Rise to the Challenge campaign, said the "outstanding work of SVP members is needed more than ever" as the UK remains in lockdown.

Covid-19 has changed our way of life, and for some of the most vulnerable people it has been devastating. Increased financial pressures, a growing sense of isolation and the constant fear of infection have contributed to a decline in the mental health of the nation. Giving Tuesday offers an opportunity to redress the balance and give something positive back to our communities.

The SVP continues to offer support, both emotional and practical, under lockdown. Befriending lies at the heart of the Society's service. This simple, yet powerful act of kindness is needed more today than at any time in the Society's almost 190-year history, and helps to overcome loneliness, demonstrate solidarity and improve mental well-being.

The SVP is also fighting food poverty and the prejudice surrounding it. The Society has seen a three-fold increase in requests for food in the period from March to October this year. Similarly, the Trussell Trust received 1.9 million requests for food parcels in the year to March 2020, with figures expected to increase significantly as the UK recession bites. The SVP has stepped up its food parcel service, along with 'knock and drop' deliveries for those who are unable to go to shops for basic items and medication.

For the UK's rough sleepers the pandemic has dealt a catastrophic blow. According to a study in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, outbreaks of Covid-19 "in homeless settings can lead to a high attack rate among people experiencing homelessness, even if incidence remains low in the general population." As the winter reduces temperatures, the SVP is handing out 'Vinnie Packs', providing essentials such as warm clothing, hygiene basics and information on well-being. The packs have become a lifeline for thousands living on the streets.

For most of us, 2020 has been one of the most challenging years on record, but Giving Tuesday is a way of ending the year on a positive note by giving something back to the charities, such as the SVP, who have supported communities through the darkest times. It is predicted that the charity sector faces a £10 billion funding shortfall this year due to charity shop closures and limited fundraising activities, however the demand for charitable services is greater than ever.

SVP President Helen O'Shea says: "The SVP is joining over 3,000 charities and partner organisations in calling for anyone who wants to demonstrate unity for their community and their compassion to volunteer their time, donate money or goods, share skills, or become a member of a charitable organisation, such as the SVP. If you care about the people in your community, if you want to make a difference, and if you want to put your positivity into action, please donate to the SVP's Rise to the Challenge campaign, visit www.svp.org.uk/rise, @SVPEnglandWales (#SVPRiseChallenge) or telephone 020 7703 3030. Together we can make our communities stronger."