Words by Abi Scaife
It’s official - we’ve got the info! Here are the top 10 most beloved charities in the UK, as calculated by BrandLove. The charities we love show what we, as a nation, really care about - and here’s a hint … we really, really like dogs!
Coming in at number 10 is Guide Dogs UK - once known as The Guide Dogs For The Blind Association. Guide Dogs UK is a charity that focuses on breeding, caring for and training guide dogs so that people with vision impairments can live the life they want.
Guide Dogs UK is currently looking for volunteer foster parents for their pups (or perhaps … fur-ster parents … ? Don’t hate us, we had to!). You can find out more by heading to our June volunteer opportunities feature, or by taking this link straight to the Guide Dogs UK website.
Number nine is Battersea Dogs & Cats Home - we really do love animals! Battersea helps dogs and cats by taking them in when they have nowhere else to go, and caring for them as they find them a furever home.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is also looking for volunteers, including temporary foster carers to take care of some of their animals while they search for their permanent home. If you want to learn more about this, you can do so by going to our June volunteer opportunities feature, or heading straight to the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home website.
Number eight, and no longer animal related, is the British Heart Foundation! The BHF is a charity that funds research into cardiovascular disease - an umbrella term for conditions which affect your heart and circulation, like strokes or heart attacks. They do amazing work, searching for cures and treatments that will help save lives.
British Heart Foundation is looking for volunteers in their shops to help raise vital funds. If you want to learn more, head over to their website for more information.
Number seven takes us back to animals again! The RSPCA is the largest animal welfare charity in the UK and is dedicated to protecting animals of all kinds. They rely on fundraising and donations and are dedicated to ending animal abuse and neglect in all of its forms.
The RSPCA is currently looking for volunteers to fill a number of roles, including a cattery assistant if you want to get up close and personal with the animals! To learn more, visit the RSPCA website and their volunteering page.
Our sixth favourite charity is Make-A-Wish - which is something we have in common with John Cena (call us!). Make-A-Wish helps incredibly sick children to experience their wildest dreams - from Disneyland trips to celebrity meets, Make-A-Wish makes it happen.
Make-A-Wish is currently looking for fundraisers and volunteers to help provide these incredible opportunities for children. To learn more about what you can do to help, follow this link to the Make-A-Wish website.
BBC Children In Need is number five - we’re halfway there! Children In Need are dedicated to supporting children in whatever they need, whenever they need it, all across the country. Everyone knows the annual TV fundraiser, but children don’t stop being in need for the other 364 days - and there are so many more amazing things you can do to help!
Children In Need is looking for people to do fundraisers for their charity - and have a whole host of resources available. For more information on how to help, head to their website.
Number four is Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Great Ormond Street Hospital helps 750 seriously ill children and young people every single day, and their charity supports those children and their families. Money donated goes to paying for important tests and treatments.
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity is looking for volunteers, including gamers to stream as a fundraiser. To learn how to get involved, head to the GOSH charity website.
At number three we have Dogs Trust - animals yet again (but who can blame us? They’re so cute!). The Dogs Trust are there for every dog, and every owner, every step of the way. They don’t just take in dogs in need, they help them and their owner, to find the best solutions for everyone.
Dogs Trust are looking for volunteers of all kinds, all across the UK. If you want to learn how to help out, head to the Dogs Trust website.
Cancer Research UK comes in at number two. This charity is dedicated to funding scientists, doctors and nurses to help beat cancer sooner, as well as providing cancer information to the public. Their work is hugely important and is helping our scientists learn more about how to treat, and eventually cure, cancer.
Cancer Research UK is looking for fundraisers to help collect donations, something that is vital for keeping the charity running. To learn more about getting involved, head to the Cancer Research UK website.
And, finally, the UK’s top favourite charity is Macmillan Cancer Support! Macmillan is an incredible charity, dedicated to supporting people with cancer, and their families. Macmillan’s nurses are so hardworking and make a huge difference to those going through such a difficult time.
Macmillan always needs volunteers and fundraisers - to learn how to run a Macmillan coffee morning to raise money for the charity, go to the Macmillan Cancer Support website.
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
RSPCA. This is the leading animal welfare charity in the UK, and they specialise in animal rescue & furthering the welfare cause for all animals. Find out more here.
Macmillan Cancer Support. They provide specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. Learn more here.
Cancer Research UK. This charity provides information for anyone affected by any kind of cancer. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Partnership for the Goals.
