Get involved with #GivingTuesday

Tomorrow (Tuesday, November 29th) is a day of giving around the world, encouraging people to give donations and their time to worthy causes. After the madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which see a lot of people shelling out on big ticket items, the day is a nice way to remind everyone about the importance of giving. 

There are a lot of ways to get involved, with the Giving Tuesday organisation urging people to share their good deeds and spread the word by using the hashtag #GivingTuesday across social media.

While we're entering the season of giving with December being just a few days away and Christmas coming up fast, this is a great way to help those who you won't be wrapping a present for this December 25th. Whether you help a stranger, someone you see every day but don't talk to or a charity you believe in, you could make a big difference with a small gesture.

To help you make the most of Giving Tuesday and to spread the word about such a great cause, here are some simple ways that you can get involved:

Donate to a charity

There are so many amazing charities out there doing great work and all of them need some help. Whether you give a one-off donation or set up a regular one, your charity of choice is going to be incredibly appreciative.

Have a look at what national charities or local ones help with a cause you're passionate about and give them whatever you can manage. It doesn't matter if it's just spare change floating around in the bottom of your pocket, every little bit really does help.

Decide to do a sponsored event

You don't necessarily need to do a sponsored event on Giving Tuesday, especially as it doesn't give you much time to get organised, but you can start collecting for one. If you've been thinking about doing a sponsored run, skydive or anything else, why not get the ball rolling this Tuesday and start asking for donations?

It doesn't matter if the event is six months away or around this time next year, the sooner you start collecting, the more funds you'll get. Plus, you'll be able to spread the word about the day and encourage others to get involved, which is an added plus.

Open your home

Do you have friends who could do with a pick-me-up or neighbours who you think might appreciate a bit of company? Simply popping on the kettle and inviting them around for a brew and a natter can go a long way to brightening up their day.

We don't always realise how lonely some people are or how stressed they get, so taking the time to talk and let them put their feet up can really mean the world to them. You never know, it might become a regular thing and you may meet some new people you get on really well with. Plus, your neighbour could have a lot of interesting stories to share and turn out to be a lot more fascinating than you initially thought.

Get baking

Everyone loves a good cake, so why not whip up a batch to take into work with you? Not only is everyone going to be happy to get an excuse to eat cake on a Tuesday, but if you ask for a small donation per slice, it is a great way to raise some money for charity too. 

Simply asking for 50p or £1 a slice could really add up and people tend to be happy for a good excuse to indulge their sweet tooth. Plus, it means you can tweet about how everyone you work with got involved, spreading the word even more.

However you choose to make the most of Giving Tuesday, make sure you share your good deeds and encourage other people to do the same. You never know what a difference you could be making to other people's' lives with a simple act.