For the fourth successive year, we are one of the ‘Charity Champions’ of the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign.

How does it work?

The Big Give Christmas Challenge doubles donations made by members of the public with funding pledged by its Charity Champions, being individuals or organisations pledging money in support of their chosen charities during the week of the campaign. Match funding is released at a fixed time every day, and public donations are doubled by Champions until that day’s funds are exhausted.

Since the Big Give launched the campaign in 2008, the Christmas Challenge has raised over £113 million for thousands of charity projects.

When does it begin?

The campaign launches at 12pm on #GivingTuesday – 3 December. Donations will be doubled until 12pm on Tuesday 10 December (whilst match funds last).

Who are we supporting this year?

The fourteen charities supported by the EQ Foundation this year are:

• Best Beginnings – their Baby Buddy parenting app is available to all parents but is particularly aimed at families with the worst health and social outcomes.
• Birth Companions – offer practical and emotional support to women experiencing multiple disadvantages before, during and after their baby’s birth.
• Breadwinners – run artisan bread market stalls across London farmers markets, providing refugees with their first job in the UK
• Breaking Barriers – support refugees into employment through tailored programmes, working in partnership with the private, non-profit and public sectors to provide paid work placements and permanent job opportunities
• British Exploring Society – run multiple programmes for 14-25-year olds, helping some of the most disadvantaged; including those in foster care, leaving care, not in education or employment, those with behavioural or mental health issues and those with disabilities.
• Excellent Development – support some of the world’s poorest people to transform their own lives through water and soil conservation in drylands
• Justlife Foundation – provide support to individuals living in Unsupported Temporary Accommodation (UTA).
• Manchester Cares – their annual winter wellbeing project sees them speak to hundreds of older neighbours to ensure they’re keeping warm, well, active and connected.
• Mybnk – deliver a suite of financial education programmes, designed in conjunction with the young people we support, with the aim of empowering young people to overcome financial obstacles, and thrive.
• North London Cares – a proactive outreach effort will see them knock on hundreds of doors, distribute warm items and host community events to keep our neighbours warm and connected this winter.
• Panathlon Challenge – inspire young disabled people to improve their physical and mental well-being through participating in sporting activities appropriate to their ability levels.
• Resurgo Trust (Spear Programme) – through the Spear Programme, Resurgo has worked with over 6,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them overcome their challenges and get into work
• South London Cares – their annual winter wellbeing project sees them speak to hundreds of older neighbours to ensure they’re keeping warm, well, active and connected.
• TwentyTwenty – supports young people with complex needs who have failed in mainstream education to progress into employment or training.

You can read more about the impact each charity makes on the Giving is Great website.

The EQ Foundation

The EQ Foundation is a registered charity (No. 1161209) which supports programmes that improve social mobility and provide early intervention. Quality of leadership is paramount plus a high standard of governance via the board. The programmes must be able to demonstrate that they are achieving positive outcomes and that they deliver long lasting benefits.