Friday 20-03-2020 - 16:40

There’s a lot going on at the moment that has huge potential to bring us down. It doesn’t have to though.

Remember how exciting it felt getting a present as a kid? Obviously it’s still great, but as we get older, we might find ourselves taking a bit more pleasure in the act of giving as well as receiving. So, with that in mind, we’ve got a few ways that giving something back might make you feel a bit better. Still with us? Read on...

 

Restaurants and cafes

Social distancing means heading to busy restaurants and cafes is a bit of a no-go, but that doesn’t mean you can’t support your fave food outlets. Why not go online and leave them a glowing review to brighten their day? You can guarantee they will be feeling the pinch of these quieter days, but an uplifting review could really make a difference.

 

Charity shops

Places like the RSPCA are cracking on as usual (heroes), but they’re calling out for stock for their charity shops. Whilst you’re spending extra time indoors, you could go through your wardrobe to get rid of some of that clutter. Donate what you can to your local charity shop and it’ll help them raise much-needed funds.

 

Sharing love digitally

Everybody needs good neighbours. Connect with other people living in your area by setting up a Facebook group, or join an existing one if they’ve beaten you to it. You could offer to pick up essentials for anyone who isn’t able to get to the shop themselves, or just share some banter. The choice is yours.

 

Microvolunteering

The Union’s Volunteering Team has got a load of ways you can help others by not even leaving your house. Here’s a few:

• Librivox: Record yourself reading chapters of books using the software from home so that other people can access free online audio books.

• Be My Eyes: Connect with blind and low-sighted people via a video chat to provide them with visual assistance.

• UN Volunteering: Help tackle some of the world’s most important issues by using your skills to complete online volunteering tasks.

 

These are just a few ways of staying positive and giving something back whilst our usual day-to-day routines are changing. If you find you’re struggling or need some support, drop us a line.