With a goal of ‘do good stuff’ it seemed only natural that Good HQ got involved in the upcoming #givingtuesday campaign.

Good HQ is all about sharing experiences of the causes people care about and 29th November is a great day to do just that.

Everyone has a unique story to tell about the causes that they care about, and it’s those stories that help to spread the word of your favourite good cause and the work it does on a daily basis. Whatever your connection to a charity; volunteer, fundraiser, donor, campaigner, supporter, service user or anything else, everyone has an important story to share and that’s what Good HQ is about.

Good HQ also provides ways to discover new ways to get involved with organisations through volunteering so is a great resource when planning what to do on 29th November. The new digital platform has been created by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and although is currently primarily Scotland based, we hope that organisations across the UK will also get involved!

What to do on #givingtuesday…

There are lots of different ways to get involved on 29th November, and if you’re not sure what you’ll be getting up to then check out just some of the ideas below:

Volunteer

Volunteering your time on #givingtuesday is a great way to get involved. Did you know in Scotland alone there are 1.3 million volunteers who provide 126 million hours of support? On #givingtuesday you could give up an hour of your time to help out at a local good cause or you could commit to volunteering regularly just like Sally does below in her local Cancer Research shop.

There are so many different volunteering opportunities out there, we’re sure you’ll find something that will interest you! And if you’re not sure where to find an opportunity near you, Good HQ is a great place to start if you live in Scotland.

“I’ve been volunteering for about six months now and the team is dynamic, fun and supportive. It’s brilliant to do something which is completely different from my day job and interact with lots of excellent people.” – @Sally review of Cancer Research UK as a volunteer.

Donate

If you’re feeling generous on #givingtuesday how about donating to your favourite good cause? Last year, over £6,000 was donated every minute!

Plus, it doesn’t have to be money, how about having a pre-Christmas clear out and drop off your unwanted clothes and other goods to a local charity shop?

“Having made a relatively small donation I received a hand written card with a personal letter which I will always remember.” – @canning review of Scottish Refugee Council as a donor.

Fundraise

How about organising a fundraiser on 29th November? Gather your colleagues, friends and/or family and plan an activity to raise money. From bake sales, to carol singing to a sponsored event – there are lots of fundraising activities you could take part in – get creative and think festive!

“The friendly atmosphere and mutual support makes volunteering such a great experience – and we made almost £300 due to the generosity of Aberdeenshire folks. A great day all round – thank you!” – @Maryrusmussen review of Guide Dogs Scotland as a volunteer and fundraiser.

Get involved

My message to you this #givingtuesday, is to give your experience a voice and help raise awareness of the great work good causes across Scotland and the UK are doing every day. And if you won’t have the opportunity to do something yourself on the day, how about sparing a few minutes to share a recent experience you’ve had supporting your favourite good cause(s) and help raise awareness?

As people start to share their stories on Good HQ using #givingtuesday, people’s experiences will be shared on our dedicated campaign page, so you can see what other people are up to on the day and discover the charities they’re supporting. Check out the campaign page and add your story!

For more information on Good HQ, please get in touch by emailing Lauren Pluss, Good HQ Community Manager: lauren.pluss@scvo.org.uk.

P.S. Remember to pledge your support on the #givingtuesday home page too and let them know you’ll be taking part!