Small Acts of Kindness GIVE the gift of warmth to those who need it the most
In October 2022, Small Acts of Kindness was one of six local organisations to receive a community grant from Thrive GIVE. Their application stood out at this time as they provide support packages which can help Thrive customers keep warm as fuel prices continue to .
Small Acts of Kindness source, pack and distribute practical gifts and information to reduce the negative impact that feeling lonely or isolated can have on older people’s physical and mental wellbeing. By giving out Warm in Winter Gift Bags they aim to heat the person and not the home.
With the rising cost of living and energy crisis hitting households harder than ever, it was important that Thrive colleagues chose organisations that were able to support customers during this time.
Niamh Thomas, Internal Communications Business Partner at Thrive, was part of group who selected this charity to receive funding this year. She said:
“I felt privileged to be asked to be part of the Thrive GIVE grants panel this year. Knowing that both colleagues and customers alike are feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, Small Acts of Kindness felt particularly appropriate. Their Warm in Winter Gift Bags will help vulnerable customers at a time when it is truly most needed, and the Purple Pages information packs will help reduce loneliness and isolation, an ongoing issue amongst older and more vulnerable people”.
The charity relies on volunteers to help their team pack their Warm in Winter Gift Bags and gather information to be handed out. Thrive had the opportunity to visit their warehouse whilst they were getting some packs ready for Christmas and see first-hand from the volunteers how important this charity is to members of the local community.
Lynne, the CEO of Small Acts of Kindness, said: "We have a wonderful partnership with Thrive which means that together we can help some of the most vulnerable older people in our community keep warm this winter. We extend our huge thanks for the recent GIVE grant from Thrive which means we will be able to fill more Warm in Winter Gift Bags with essential keep warm items and comprehensive information packs for local older people."
Lynne started off by giving out 50 Warm in Winter Gift Bags in 2014 and with the help of volunteers, this figure has now gradually grown larger and larger. In 2021 her team handed out 15,500 gift bags! This growing figure shows how important these bags are to the most vulnerable in our community and it’s great to hear that so many individuals are being supported by this growing charity.
Lynne (CEO) with Thrive's Warm in Winter bags
Lynne (CEO) with volunteers packing Small Acts of Kindness bags