Charity at Christmas

After a year of beatings to the economy, we find ourselves with many of the country's banks nationalised, Woolworths not likely to survive far into next year, and the Euro worth more than the pound. Many people now find themselves out of work. So those presents and Christmas dinners may suddenly be harder to arrange than last year.

One early casualty of economic difficulties is always charity. As an optional extra use of people's money, charitable donations are easier to stop than rent, say, or groceries. So despite often serving those people or causes that are not already provided for, charities are likely to suffer at least as much as many individuals and businesses. Oxfam, for example, has already announced that it expects to raise millions of pounds less than usual, as a direct result of the credit crunch.

So it is heartening to see so many fundraising efforts this year. The BBC's Children In Need raised more money than ever. 'Movember', originally an Australian concept in which men grow handlebar moustaches for a prostate cancer charity, had a record number of participants in the UK. Locally the Hastings Marathon continues the trend of sponsored runs and '“ my favourite '“ the Bexhill Observer this week reported on the efforts of the BAPS '“ Bald and Proud of Sidley, a mother and daughter team who not only shaved their heads for charity, they even donated their hair!

Here's hoping that the year ahead is a happy one, and that charities aren't the next casualty of these difficult times. Merry Christmas all!