9 Charities Close To The SL Team’s Hearts

“As a business, it’s well known that we are huge supporters of the charity Key4Life,  launched to help reduce reoffending through a rehabilitation programme for those at risk of going to prison or already incarcerated. The prison system is one that receives very little funding, yet the cost to this country is approximately £40,000 a year per offender. We have a national reoffending rate of around 65%, it costs £5k to put a guy through the Key4Life programme, after which the reoffending rate falls to around 15%. The numbers speak for themselves – and that’s before you even think that for so many young men in this country, there is a predetermined path, few father figures, and a need for survival. 

Visit Key4Life.org.uk

My husband and I are also huge supporters of the Magic Breakfast, a charity that provides healthy school breakfasts to children at risk of hunger in disadvantaged areas. Some children in this country are so disadvantaged, they don’t get breakfast at home, and hunger inhibits their ability to learn. Every 28p donated gives a child a nutritious breakfast and a chance to succeed at school.

Visit MagicBreakfast.com

“I first followed the late Dame Deborah James when she had just 2,000 followers on Instagram, but her optimism got me through some of the toughest of times – especially when my dad was going through his cancer diagnosis and subsequent death. She spoke the truth, gave us hope and has taught so many people how to spot the signs of bowel cancer and to live each day to the fullest. I will forever be indebted to her – I really felt like she held my hand through some of my darkest days. The BowelBabe Fund is part of her incredible legacy.”

Visit JustGiving.com

“Black Minds Matter helps Black families and individuals in the UK access free mental health services. It was founded by the incredible Agnes Mwakatuma who is helping to change the conversation around mental health for those from ethnic minority backgrounds. The charity gained a lot of traction during the Black Lives Matter movement, but still needs support and funding as the team has a long waiting list to help people who are trying to access therapy. I’ve seen first-hand how beneficial therapy is and how important having access to mental health services is within my own family, so it’s a charity I really believe in and love to support.”

Visit BlackMindsMatteruk.com. You can donate via the link here.

Tor Cardona

Wellness Editor

“It’s estimated around 2.3m people worldwide suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS) – which equates to around one in 50 in the UK. There’s no cure for the disease, and the cause remains unknown, though certain treatments can slow the progression of symptoms. Plus, it’s most diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. MS-UK is a fantastic charity that works to support anyone affected by the disease, helping them understand MS and providing support where it’s needed. I ran the London Marathon in 2018 for MS-UK and continue to follow and support its work – my uncle was diagnosed with MS ten years ago and is now a wheelchair user. I know the charity has provided invaluable support to him over the years.”

Visit MS-UK.org

“Khalsa Aid is a UK based charity that provides mental, social and financial support to those who need it the most – whether it’s due to natural disasters or those affected by civil conflicts. I found about this charity’s amazing work at the beginning of 2021 after farmer protests took place in Punjab towards the end of 2020. These protests were the result of new agricultural policies which had the potential to affect many farming businesses in India – with my mum's family in Punjab owning farms, the protests hit deeper. Seeing so many Sikhs in Punjab heartbroken, beaten and devastated, I knew I wanted to do something to help, even if it was something small – so I donated to Khalsa Aid. Religion is big in my family, and I try my hardest to keep up to date with news within Sikhism. KhalsaAid also helps with this. If you’re interested in this area, I can also recommend following @SikhYouthUk on Instagram, which raises awareness about different international Sikh matters.”

Visit KhalsaAid.org

“My family has been involved with the mental health charity Samaritans for close to 15 years and not a day goes by when I’m not reminded how vitally important this service is. Everyone has things that trouble them – big and small – but not everyone has a supportive family or group of friends to talk to about it. That’s what Samaritans is. A listening ear when you need it most. I’m often asked whether the service saw a huge surge in calls during the pandemic and interestingly, the answer is not, not calls. Suddenly being home 24/7 meant few people had the privacy to call Samaritans, so emails actually went through the roof instead – especially for domestic abuse cases. It was a stark reminder that some people’s experience of lockdown was very frightening and isolating. Now, the charity is seeing another surge in calls as people struggle to adapt to a very different world, one in which financial pressures loom large. There isn’t a day when Samaritans isn’t needed, so it’s vital to me that I do all I can to ensure they provide the same service so many have come to depend on.”

Visit Samaritans.org

"As a beauty editor, I get inundated with products and there is always excess. I couldn't think of anything better than donating it to women who could benefit. That's why I love to give as much as I can to Stonewater – I live in Brighton and it’s a local refuge for those fleeing domestic abuse. I've seen first-hand the joy a mascara, blusher or even a decent shower gel can bring people and how these products we often take for granted can restore an identity that many end up losing in these circumstances. It's also hugely rewarding to see the children in these refuges light up at the sight of a fun nail set! Sometimes, the smallest things can have the biggest impact."

Visit SafeSpaceSussex.org.uk

“This year I’m running the London Marathon for Children With Cancer – a leading national charity dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer. Not only does it raise awareness about the different types of cancer out there, it also funds research and helps to support families affected by different forms of the disease, too. Right now, its current research focuses include rarer cancers such as brain tumours and bone cancer. Thanks to its relentless efforts, childhood cancer survival rates have improved from 67.3% in 1990 to more than 85% as of 2018 – I find that hugely inspiring.”

Visit ChildrenWithCancer.org