National charities and appeals
Medical research charities
What they do
Charities such as Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation fund research into cancer and heart and circulatory diseases, and run mass-participation events such as Race for Life, where thousands take part in the same T-shirt.
What they order
When they order
Spring and summer challenge events, awareness months, research open days.
National charities and appeals
Cancer support and end-of-life care
What they do
Macmillan Cancer Support helps people living with cancer, and Marie Curie cares for people at the end of their lives and supports their families. Both fundraise all year, from coffee mornings to daffodil appeals.
What they order
When they order
Coffee mornings in September, daffodil appeals in spring, memory walks in summer.
National charities and appeals
Children’s charities
What they do
The NSPCC runs Childline and works to keep children safe, Barnardo’s supports children and young people across the UK, and Save the Children works in the UK and around the world, with school and office fundraisers all year.
What they order
When they order
Christmas Jumper Day, school fundraisers, Children in Need in November.
National charities and appeals
Humanitarian and overseas aid
What they do
Oxfam, the British Red Cross and other aid charities respond to emergencies and long-term poverty at home and abroad, with volunteers, shops and appeals that need clear, recognisable kit.
What they order
When they order
Emergency appeals, volunteer recruitment, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on 8 May.
Care, health and community
Hospices
What they do
Local hospices care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Most of their income comes from their communities through shops, lotteries, memory walks and Christmas events, and Hospice UK supports the national network.
What they order
When they order
Memory walks, Christmas fairs and remembrance events, new shop openings.
Care, health and community
Mental health and wellbeing
What they do
Mind, Samaritans and many local groups offer support, information and someone to talk to. Their merchandise often carries a helpline number, a short message or a campaign colour for an awareness week.
What they order
When they order
Mental Health Awareness Week in May, World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
Care, health and community
Older people and carers
What they do
Age UK and its local partners support older people with advice, befriending and services, and carers’ charities support people who look after a relative or friend without pay. Practical, warm kit goes a long way.
What they order
When they order
Carers Week in June, winter campaigns, befriending drives.
Care, health and community
Housing, homelessness and food banks
What they do
Shelter and Crisis campaign and support people on housing and homelessness, and the Trussell network of food banks feeds people in crisis. Volunteers need kit that’s easy to spot and copes with every kind of weather.
What they order
When they order
Christmas and winter appeals, summer holiday food drives, volunteer days.
Animals, nature and heritage
Animal welfare and rescue
What they do
The RSPCA in England and Wales, the Scottish SPCA, Dogs Trust and Cats Protection rescue and rehome animals, alongside hundreds of local rescues. Adoption days and sponsored dog walks love a bright T-shirt and a tote bag.
What they order
When they order
Adoption days, sponsored dog walks, shop stock all year.
Animals, nature and heritage
Conservation and wildlife
What they do
The RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust look after nature reserves, woods and coasts, with volunteers out on reserves, beaches and hills in all weathers.
What they order
When they order
Spring and autumn volunteer days, the Big Garden Birdwatch in January.
Animals, nature and heritage
Heritage, arts and culture
What they do
The National Trust, the National Trust for Scotland and many local museums, galleries and theatres care for places and collections, with shops, members and volunteers welcoming visitors through the year.
What they order
When they order
The visitor season from Easter, member drives, Christmas shops.
Local, grassroots and rescue
Community groups and CICs
What they do
Residents’ associations, community interest companies, youth clubs, uniformed groups and faith-based charities run everything from litter picks to lunch clubs, often on small budgets with big hearts.
What they order
When they order
Volunteers’ Week in June, summer fetes, Small Charity Week.
Local, grassroots and rescue
Sports and community trusts
What they do
Club foundations and community sports trusts use sport to reach people of all ages, running fun runs, holiday camps, walking football and coaching sessions across the UK.
What they order
When they order
Holiday camps, fun runs, end-of-season awards.
Local, grassroots and rescue
Air ambulances and lifeboats
What they do
Air ambulance charities and the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea with volunteer crews, rely on donations, lotteries and shops, and on supporters who wear the badge with pride.
What they order
When they order
Open days, summer lifeboat days, Christmas shops and appeals.