STARTING A DIET for your New Year's resolution is so last year. We suggest adopting a charity pledge for 2008 which will cheer you up as well as secure you a place in, or en route to, heaven. The team offers you the following faintly gothic options...


1. Lose weight
You can still diet. Blood is heavy. So if you take some out you’ll be lighter*. And if you do it at a blood collection centre rather than at home you will probably help save someone’s life. Last year Adam did it and he got used to the idea, after a while. 30 seconds to your nearest collection point here (but go steady on the Rich Teas.)



2. Think small
Why not swap that well-known charity you’ve always supported for a small one that does similar stuff? There’s no guarantee the money will go further, but you may be helping work which big charities overlook, and you’ll add stability to a small charity’s bank balance – something that doesn't affect the big boys.
> Search for one, by type of work, in Charity Chooser or
> Find a recommended one in Experts’ Choices


3. Spring clean for charity
There's Christmas junk to get rid of. But before skipping to the charity shop with your new musical socks - what other stuff can you easily live without? Any old mobile phones? Specs? Computer? What about the bike you never ride? Shift your junk (for charity of course).


4. Employ a battle-weary worker
"Face-to-face fundraisers" (aka charity muggers) are on their feet all day, on cold streets where people actively avoid them. It’s tempting to cheer them up by signing up to their direct debits – but that’s not the best idea, since your donations help pay their wages (see article). What to do? Give them a job. Many are recent graduates, and the smart ones would rather be working indoors than battling with shoppers in the cold.


5. Confront your fears
Blow those cobwebs (and spiders) away, burn calories and do some good while improving your local environment - try your local BTCV (see profile) for one-day environmental projects. Great fun (and biscuits, tea and coffee provided - some say that's what the BTC stands for**).

6. Knit for life
Return to more sober pursuits: learn how to knit. A teddy. Then send it to an unlucky child who will love it for ever. This way for free knitting patterns from the cutest non-charity around: Teddies for Tragedies



7. Get a bit more serious
If you're feeling a deep-seated niggle to really "give back", we can suggest these three sources of help:

• We Are What We Do - a delightful site which inspires in hundreds of ways.
• How to give - our very own, very practical guide to giving.
• The More You Give - the best self-help book about giving we have read .

* This is pure nonsense and shouldn't be taken at all seriously
** Thanks to LMC for this contribution

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