A: A donation to someone who has nothing
Most of the major overseas charities run schemes for giving : “Christmas isn’t Christmas without somebody getting a goat” says The Leprosy Mission.
Christian Aid suggest £25 to provide counselling for Syrian Refugee Children, ActionAid cross sturdy cockerels with hens who can stand the heat of the tropics to produce climate-resilient birds giving eggs that the family can eat and sell, Barnabas Fund protects vulnerable women and girls, WaterAid build latrines…… and so on.
All the schemes include a card or e-letter to your friend/relative explaining what you’ve done.
But if you have to give an actual gift make it Fair Trade! Our last Traidcraft stall before Christmas is on 6th December but you can still shop for their online catalogue traidcraftshop.co.uk or visit their Fair Christmas Fair at the Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street on Saturday 12th December from 11am-6pm (that’s opposite BHS, not far from Oxford Circus).