Charity of the Month // The Prince's Trust

One of the issues very close to my heart is tackling inequality for children and young people. It's something I studied very closely during my teacher training and the reason why I was placed in a "deprived borough" for my final placement. I'm firmly of the belief that circumstances should not define anyone's future, and that is why I support The Prince's Trust.

Charity of the Month // National Autistic Society

In February, I didn't have to think for a second before choosing two cancer charities for my Charity of the Month spot. The world had lost Alan Rickman, who I was completely besotted with, and I was- and still am- absolutely devastated. In my post, I mentioned that I'd lost two family members to the disease but at the time we were completely unaware that another close relative was oblivious to the illness within her. She was diagnosed shortly after I wrote my post and sadly passed away just two weeks later, so it didn't feel right to take down the sidebar images at the end of the month. Instead, I left them there until today, when it feels like a good time to highlight a different cause. After asking on Twitter, Helen suggested an autism charity, so I've chosen to feature the National Autistic Society.

Charities of the Month // Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support

Usually, it takes me a little while to consider which charity I'm going to feature each month. This month, however, I didn't even need to think for a second. January has been a hard time for so many people. Of course we've lost some of our greatest talent in the past 30 days- David Bowie, my idol Alan Rickman and now the sad news that Sir Terry Wogan has also left us- but there are also many others, not in the public eye, who are learning to live in a world that has changed, all because of cancer.

Charity of the Month // Leona for Little Princess Trust

My Charity of the Month is a little different this January. Instead of supporting a charity, I'm using this space to share Leona's fundraising campaign. Those of you who know Leona will know that she has long hair. Like, really long hair. Being the wonderful, selfless person she is, she's decided to cut it off and donate it to the Little Princess Trust. Not only that, but she's being sponsored to do so and donating all of the money she raises. Amazing!

Charity of the Month // National AIDS Trust

As many people will know, December 1st marks World AIDS Day- a day to show support to those living with HIV and AIDS, remember those who have died and to unite in the fight against the virus. World AIDS Day runs alongside the National AIDS Trust so it made sense to support NAT throughout December.

Charity of the Month // Amnesty International & how to help refugees

Last month, I chose Amnesty International for my charity spotlight, based on the refugee crisis. Just 30 days ago, I found it difficult to find information and images to use in my post. Needless to say, that's not the case now. While I'm glad that the refugees are finally getting the media attention- and compassion- they so desperately need, there is still a lot more to be done. Because of this, I've decided to keep Amnesty International as my featured charity throughout September. Alongside my support for Amnesty International, I'll also include other ways to help the refugees across Europe and beyond.

Charity of the Month // Amnesty International

Immigration. Everyone has an opinion on it and it's very easy to see migrants like, as David Cameron so sensitively put it, a swarm of figures. But how many of us stop to think about each one of those figures as a person, a human, somebody who is just like us? It seems every week there is another report of somebody dying on their way to the UK: hundreds drowning in the Mediterranean, hit by trucks in the Channel Tunnel, falling out of planes. Think about it: These people, who are just like us bar the country of their birth, are literally dying rather than stay in their home nations. Can you even imagine how horrendous your life would have to be for the risk of falling out of a plane to be a better prospect?

Charity of the Month // Samaritans

This month, I've chosen to support Samaritans which, as many of you will know, is a charity that supports anybody who needs emotional support. Although some believe that you can only call Samaritans if you're feeling desperate, they actually welcome everyone, regardless of how small your worries may seem. Over 60 years ago, Samaritans opened as a telephone service but these days you can call, visit your local branch, email, text or even write a letter for support and someone to talk to. 

However, Samaritans isn't all about offering individual support. It also carries out a huge amount of research projects into suicide prevention and are in a five-year partnership with National Rail to reduce the number of railway suicides, which includes suicide intervention for railway staff and has lead to over 50 saved lives. 

There are a huge variety of ways to support Samaritans, from climbing Kilmanjaro to collecting your loose change. Of course you can just donate the old-fashioned way too!

With support from us, Samaritans can answer every call and extend the availability of new services such as text support. We can make a real difference to people's lives if we all help out a little!

Bloglovin' // Twitter // Instagram

Charity of the Month // Refuge

This month, I'm turning my attention towards women who need help in abusive situations. Refuge assists victims of domestic abuse, helping them find emergency accommodation and outreach workers for those who cannot leave home.

WHY IS REFUGE IMPORTANT?

Contrary to popular belief, domestic violence can happen to anyone. In fact, one in four women will be abused in their lifetime so, chances are, if it hasn't happened to you, it's happened to somebody you know. Of those, two women are killed every week by a former or current partner and every single day, 30 women in the UK will attempt suicide to escape violence. Every week, three of those women will succeed. Imagine living a life where it feels like your only option is to kill yourself. Where you cannot simply leave. Women, and children, who live in these conditions need our help.

Thankfully, Refuge is working tirelessly to improve the lives of victims and to give them hope. They campaign tirelessly to improve legislation that operates around women's safety. Over the country, shelters are run by Refuge and managed by specialist staff to provide women and children safety when fleeing abuse. Outreach services assist those who cannot leave and the Domestic Violence Helpline is open 24 hours a day.

HOW CAN I HELP?

As well as standard donations, you can donate the cost of a refuge parcel or support a stay. If sporty fundraising is more your thing, you can take part in Walk4 in London, or raise money through a range of cycling or running events.

However, this month is special because Benefit are supporting Refuge in their Bold is Beautiful campaign.For every brow wax during May, Benefit will donate 50% of the profits to Refuge (the other 50% will go towards Look Good, Feel Better). You'll even get a free full-sized Gimme Brow as a thank you. What's more, on Sunday 10th May, Benefit are holding the Bold is Beautiful March through London to raise further funds. 

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Unfortunately, domestic violence is a part of life for an estimated 1.1million women in the UK. Refuge are campaigning tirelessly to stop that and together, we can give them hope.

Charity of the Month // Alzheimer's Society

This month, I was unsure what to choose for my montly charity spot. I asked Rich his opinion and he suggested the Alzheimer's Society as he's a big fan of Terry Pratchett. As many of you will know, the author sadly died in March after being diagnosed with dementia 8 years ago but this is a disease that affects 850,000 people in the UK. Unfortunately, Pratchett's illness is far from unique.

There are 100 forms of dementia, the most common of which is Alzheimer's and, despite the name, the Alzheimer's Society raises money to help the lives of those living with all forms of dementia and to support research into the illnesses. Although many people think of dementia as an "old person's disease" (and it's true that 1 in 6 over-80s will be diagnosed), there are currently 40,000 young people in the UK with dementia. 

Most people will know that dementia affects the memory and that it's a progressive illness with no cure, but it also affects their mobility and ability to communicate. In the later stages, sufferers become trapped in their body, unable to move or speak, becoming increasingly distressed and sometimes suffering from hallucinations. They are prone to infections and blood clots which the body finds more and more difficult to fight off. Although cause of death varies wildly, it is often a result of these physical illnesses brought on by the body's progressive weakness.
What can we do to help alleviate the suffering of those diagnosed with dementia? The Alzheimer's Society has a huge range of ways to get involved, from taking parts in events such as their flagship Memory Walk and supporting campaigns to volunteering at memory centres and training to become a Dementia Friend. Of course, if you prefer to donate, you can do so online or via text or visit the Alzheimer's Society Shop where you can buy a range of gifts such as this Orla Kiely flask and help raise money for the charity.

As well as helping the lives of people currently living with dementia, money raised by the Alzheimer's Society also funds research into the cause, cure and prevention of the illness. With this research, the Alzheimer's Society intends to improve treatment for people today and find a cure for tomorrow. 

Charity of the month // Comic Relief

It's March and everybody in the UK knows this means Red Nose Day. For those who are not familiar with it, Red Nose Day is a biennial event (alternating each year with Sport Relief) run by Comic Relief, a charity that aims to raise money for to end poverty and social injustice all over the world through the use of comedy. Every other year, children all over the UK don red noses and silly clothes at school to raise money, and special televised programmes encourage viewers to donate as much money as possible.

Comic Relief have contributed to so many causes that it's difficult to sum them up concisely. As examples, in Africa alone, the money raised since 1988 has helped over 1 million children gain an education, 6 million have been protected from Malaria and 3 million affected by HIV have been supported. Closer to home, Comic Relief have helped fund the Time to Change campaign to end discrimination against those suffering from mental health issues and in 2003, helped set up the National Domestic Violence Helpline, which has received over 1.5 million calls.

Of course, despite all the great that has been achieved, there is still much to be done. This year alone, 2 million children will die of starvation unless they get help. Right now, 30 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa aged 6-11 are not in education and therefore their future prospects are limited. Comic Relief has helped half a million of the 1 in 4 people who will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. To put this into perspective, every single one of you know somebody with a mental health problem- me. It's much more widespread than most realise. Furthermore, there are 800,000 people living with Dementia in the UK at this moment. Since 1988, over 60 projects helping those with Dementia have been supported and funded with donations to Comic Relief. 

There is so much good to be done and so much that can be done, but Comic Relief relies on donations. Not only can you help by donating directly, but you can also fundraise at your place of work, school or even individually. I'm going to be hosting a special Red Nose Day assembly featuring this incredible earworm of a song! Alternatively, you can buy some really awesome things, such as the tops above, to raise money towards this great cause.

I hope to see you all sporting your red noses on 13th March! 

Charity of the Month // Parkinson's UK

Like many people, I once thought Parkinson's was a condition that purely caused shakiness. I understood that it wasn't a pleasant condition but had absolutely no idea of the devastating effect it can cause. Then, in 2010, someone very close to me was diagnosed with it. 

Over the next two years, I watched this person deteriorate from somebody very confident and independent, who had was rarely unwell at all, to a frail, anxious person confined to a wheelchair. It absolutely broke my heart. For a while, I was living with this person and did my best to help out where I could, but it devastated me to see such a strong, inspiring person (who is still strong and inspiring to me, no matter their health) progress to somebody who needed 24-hour care. 

Parkinson's doesn't just affect movement. It's a progressive neurological condition which causes fatigue, memory loss, communication issues and problems with swallowing. There is no cure and it's not a terminal illness. Instead, sufferers deteriorate over time until they completely lose their independence.

For me, the thing that hurts the most is that my loved one is still as sharp as every mentally but is living trapped in her own body and finds it difficult to communicate. I've seen first-hand how people talk and act around her as if she doesn't understand what's going on, and can only imagine how frustrating that must be.

Since there is no cure for Parkinson's, and it's not known what causes it, there are about 127,000 people living with the condition in the UK. That's 127,000 people who know they will get worse and that their quality of life will dwindle with no hope for improvement. However, Parkinson's UK are working tirelessly to research the condition and work towards a cure. They also help support people living with Parkinson's and their loved ones, and campaign to make sure sufferers are treated fairly.Parkinson's UK is a cause I will support forever, having such close contact with the condition. There are also some indications that it may be genetic in some cases and research shows that sufferers of Parkinson's have low dopamine levels, something that is also evident in those with anxiety, like myself. This makes me very aware that there's a chance Parkinson's may crop up in my own future. 

If you'd also like to help, you can sponsor a worm like Dave (it makes sense when you read it!) for £5 a month or check out the Parkinson's shop where there's a huge range of items sold to raise money. Of course, you can also donate in the usual way with a single donation. 

All the money raised by Parkinson's makes a real difference to the lives of those with the condition and in the fight for research to finally beat this cruel illness.