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We know that if you’re thinking of buying a charity christmas gift that you don’t really need that much incentive, but with all and sundry running discounts and offers it’s no surprise that charity shops are doing that little bit extra to try and make you spend your money with them.

For a limited time period Oxfam Unwrapped are offering a free box of chocs worth £10.99 with selected gifts. They’re not just any chocolates either, but a “gorgeous selection of hand-finished Fairtrade chocolates”. According to the blurb we were sent “they’re made using only premium cocoa beans from the Kuapa Kokoo farmers’ co-op in Ghana, whose motto ‘pa pa paa’ means ‘best of the best’ in the local Twi language”. Sounds lovely!

These chocolates normally costs £10.99, but you get them free when you spend £50 or more on gifts purchased from their website. Stocks are limited so this offer is only available whilst stocks last.

Free Fairtrade Chocolates at Oxfam Unwrapped

Fairtrade Chocolate Gift Ideas

Want to get an animal loving chum a present for Christmas but stuck for ideas? How about adopting an animal on their behalf! You can feel safe in the knowledge that your gift will help animals in need from cute little creatures on our doorsteps in the UK to some of the most endangered animals on the planet.

We have had a look through animal charities for some adoption gift ideas and have listed a few below-

Cats Protection
Sponsor a Cat Cabin for homeless cats waiting to be rehomed from £4 month

Cefn-yr-Erw Primate Sanctuary
Adopt a chimp from £25 a year and aid this charity which rescues and provides a home for many types of unwanted animals, especially primates, from zoos and laboratories. You can pick your chimp online (our favourites are Jason and Jeremy) and the recipient will receive a certificate and entry into the sanctuary to see their chimp!

WSPA
Donate £3 a month and become a member of The WSPA and help save stray dogs and other animals from cruelty.

WWF Green Gifts
You can adopt a dolphin, tiger, panda, orang-utan, black rhino, elephant or polar bear for a year from £19.99! Throughout the year you will be sent updates on your chosen animal’s progress and other projects you are helping.

There are two options available, the first being a monthly payment for a few pounds a month, although not large sums, these regular payments help charities plan for future projects.

The second is the gift adoption package where for a one off payment of around £20 to £30 the recipient receives a years animal adoption with a certificate and other goodies, for example a stuffed toy.

Donkey Adoption £34 Yes, there are a number of donkeys from all over Europe who could do with some loving! Your recipien … Animal Adoption £75 Whether it's an otter, jaguar or alpaca, you can chose from over 50 animals and have the chance … Adopt a Bear £20 Support the work of conservation charity, People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), with a 1 … Adopt a Big Cat £20 Support the work of endangered species charities with a big cat adoption pack. You'll receive a …

Your animal loving chum will surely enjoy an animal related present that is easy to look after (a card or certificate doesn’t need much attention) and won’t leave unmentionables in their slippers!

Help spread some cheer around the world by buying someone a World Vision Must Have Gift for Christmas!

The items on the World Vision Must Have Gifts have been requested directly by communities the charity is working with to fight poverty, hunger and injustice in both planned projects and emergency situations.

For each gift you buy, you will be helping World Vision help communities to help themselves in both the short and long term.

The Must Have Gift list is regularly updated, so projects will not be flooded with surplus supplies that they cannot use and new items are added as they are needed.

Current Must Haves
1. Seeds for a family farm for food and income – £9
2. Tap to provide safe clean water in schools – £9
3. 10 fruit trees helps a family grow their own produce – £9
4. Meals for 70 children in Cambodia – £12
5. 5 chickens will lay enough eggs to feed a family – £14

To buy gifts at World Vision pick the product and then you’re able to choose from an ecard, one of six gift cards or you can personalise a card. Don’t forget to add gift aid if you’re a UK tax payer as this means 28p in every £1 is reclaimed on donations.

World Vision are not the only charity offering practical Christmas gifts, have a look at our post on Charity Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas is just around the corner with the associated dilemma of what to buy your friends and family. Forget the embarrassing fluffy slippers, novelty tie or christmas socks, this year, put a smile on their faces and help others less fortunate than ourselves by buying them a charity Christmas gift.

Charities such as Oxfam, World Vision, NSPCC, Present Aid and Practical Action, WWF offer a wide range of gifts starting from as little as £5 and that will appeal to all ages!

But what’s on offer?

We took a quick look at the Christmas Charity Gift shops and have come up with a few ideas to help you decide….

World Vision Must Have Gifts
1. 5 chickens will lay enough eggs to feed a family – £14
2. Buy a goat and help farmers in Kenya – £18
3. 10 fruit trees helps a family grow their own produce – £10

Oxfam
1. Health check-ups fund clinics in remote areas – £6
2. School dinners for 100 children in poor communities – £6
3. Build a bog helps prevents the spread of disease – £50

Present Aid
1. Beehive gives poor farmers in Bolivia another income – £21
2. Disaster survival kit to help families in emergencies like floods – £10
3. Basketball to bring people together through sport – £8

Practical Action
1. Fluffy ducks give eggs and income to families in Bangladesh – £10
2. Tiny Trees provide food and raw materials for people in Sudan – £15
3. Cuddly Alpaca help families in the freezing Peruvian Andes – £50

WWF
1. Picture Pocket Diary 2009 printed on recycled paper – £2.95
2. Adopt a wild polar bear; help this endangered animal – £29.99
3. Adopt a wild panda to help protect their habitat in China – £29.99

Don’t forget there’s also the Letters to Santa to help the NSPCC, mosquito nets, chickens, goats, toilets, even providing water for an entire village! You won’t have to deal with livestock turning up on your doorstep either, the charities make all the arrangements and will send a free card and momento to the receiver of your charity gift.

It’s nearly time for Terry Wogan and co to takeover BBC1 for the night and host the annual Children in Need event. It takes place on the 14th November 2008 and you can start to get ready for the event by picking up some great Pudsey goodies from The BBC Shop. According to the site “an average of 27% from the sale of this merchandise range will benefit The BBC Children in Need Appeal” so you’ll be helping Pudsey raise even more money for charity.

As well as the badges, balloons, Tshirts and bandana (that’s the spotty thing above) you’ll also find a Pudsey keyring and even bunting – ideal for your own Pudsey party or Children in Need event.

If you want to take part in this year’s event then visit Pudsey where you can download sponsorship forms, posters and stickers. There’s even a welsh language pack too. You’ll also find some ideas on how to raise money for Children in Need.

The Railway Children £6.99 The story of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis and their life in the country has never been out of print si … 2 Point 4 Children: Series 2 (DVD) £15.99 The series begins with Bill (Belinda Lang) unemployed after losing her job at the bakery. She finds … Torchwood Children of Earth (Blu-Ray) £12.39 An ordinary day becomes a world of terror, as every single child in the world stops. A message is se … Torchwood Children of Earth (DVD) £8.99 An ordinary day becomes a world of terror, as every single child in the world stops. A message is se …