Every year, on 5 September, people and charities around the world celebrate International Day of Charity.
Originally introduced by the United Nations in 2012, the day coincides with the anniversary of Mother Theresa's death and aims to raise awareness about the importance of charity, volunteering, and philanthropy.
Giving is good for you, too
When you think about charitable giving it’s almost certain to be outward looking – how your time, money, or fundraising efforts can benefit others. Yet research reveals that acts of kindness and giving is as good for you as it is for those you choose to support.
3 ways giving can do wonders for your health and wellbeing
1. Doing good boosts your mood
Gift-giving almost always raises a smile – from the giver and the recipient.
Whether it's giving a gift or taking part in a charitable event, doing something nice for others creates a chemical response in your body and your brain releases a series of “feel good” chemicals.
In fact, researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that giving to charity activates regions of our brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, creating a “warm glow” effect.
Acts of kindness lead your brain to release:
- Serotonin, helping to regulate your mood
- Dopamine, giving you a sense of pleasure
- Oxytocin, creating a sense of connection with others.
It's also believed that altruistic behaviour releases endorphins in the brain, producing the positive feeling known as the “helper’s high".
2. Generosity can lead to better health
Acting from the heart can pay back in spades – in fact, research has shown that giving to others can have similar health-boosting effects as eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise.
Indeed, science has shown that people who support others often have lower blood pressure.
And the good news doesn’t end there.
A study from the University of California found that elderly people who volunteered for two or more organisations were 44% less likely to die over a five-year period than non-volunteers – regardless of their age, exercise habits, general health, or negative health habits like smoking.
Similar result have been shown in other studies. One from the University of Michigan looked at the effects of elderly people who provided practical help to their friends, relatives, or neighbours, or gave emotional support to their spouses.
Researchers found that those who gave practical help to others had a lower risk of dying over a five-year period than those who didn’t. Meanwhile, receiving help from others didn’t appear to reduce the risk of death.
3. Giving strengthens social connections
Wherever possible, optimise the benefits of charitable giving by ensuring that your support involves some kind of social connection.
When you give to others, your generosity is likely to be rewarded by others in the future – either by the person you gave to or someone else.
Such positive exchanges lead to a sense of trust and cooperation, strengthening ties to others. And research has proved that positive social interactions are central to good mental and physical health.
Simple ways to engage in acts of kindness and contribute to charitable causes on International Charity Day
If you’re keen to engage in acts of kindness and contribute to charitable causes on International Charity Day, here are three simple ways to get involved:
- Donate money by making a financial contribution to a reputable charity or organisation that aligns with something that matters to you. It needn't be a lot of money – even small sums can make a significant difference when combined with others.
- Volunteer your time and share your skills by volunteering for a charitable organisation. Help out at a local food bank, get involved in a community clean-up campaign, or offer assistance to those who need support.
- Spread the word through social media and other channels to raise awareness about International Day of Charity.
Know you’re already doing good by being a client of Alexander Peter
Did you know we donate £50 to charity every time we have an initial meeting that comes from a client recommendation? However the meeting takes place – in person or by video call – we send money to Water for Africa.
If you know someone, such as friends, family, or colleagues, who might benefit from our financial planning expertise, now might be a great time to make a recommendation. If we meet with them, we’ll make a £50 donation on your behalf.
And that’s not all.
In addition to our charity referral scheme, every time we take on a new client, we offset the carbon by planting a tree.
We partnered with tree-nation in 2022. Since then, we’ve planted 250 trees, helped to reforest 0.23 hectares, and captured 76.81 tonnes of harmful C02 emissions.
Make a referral
If you know someone who may benefit from our support and advice, please share our contact details, or send a link to our website so that they can find out more about what we do. Alternatively, share the contact details for your Alexander Peter financial planner.
