Today is Giving Tuesday, an initiative set up by the Charities Aid Foundation in the UK.

Giving Tuesday is all about 'doing good stuff for charity'. It happens every year on the Tuesday following Black Friday, and it is the perfect antidote.

As a community retailer, Giving Tuesday fits right in with our values and our vision to make a real difference to the communities we serve. At the Channel Islands Co-op, we just love to give back.

So to celebrate #GivingTuesday, here’s a round-up of all the charity and community activities you can look forward to at your Co-op this festive season.

1. Supporting the soup kitchen in Jersey

On Tuesday 4 December, we’ll be giving our time to Shelter Trust’s soup kitchen.

The soup kitchen raises money for homeless islanders. We’re providing bread for the event, and colleagues will be volunteering on the day. Pop down and say hi!

2. Inviting local schools to fundraise in store

During the festive season, look and listen out for school choirs in our Jersey and Guernsey stores. Shoppers will be serenaded by the choirs, who will be raising vital funds for local charities of their choice. Keep an eye on the timetable for more info about who will be at your store and when!

3. Trolley dashing to raise cash!

We’re delighted to be sponsoring Headway Jersey and Guernsey Welfare’s Trolley Dashes in Grand Marché St Helier and Grand Marché St Martin. You may have spotted the charities selling tickets in store already!

The lucky ticket holders will have 2 minutes to grab as much as they can. The Trolley Dash takes place in Jersey on Saturday 1 December, and in Guernsey on Saturday 15 December.

4. Making Christmas magical for Guernsey children

The Rotary Club Tree of Joy is a well-known initiative in Guernsey. This year, we have a mini Tree of Joy in Grand Marché St Martin where members and customers can take a label off the tree, and buy the suggested gift for the deserving Guernsey child listed on the label. Our Guernsey store teams will also each be fundraising towards a gift. Find out more about the Tree of Joy.

In Jersey, this year we are proud to launch our Christmas Wish Tree campaign, for residents of St Saviour's hospital.

5. Fundraising with our Christmas Jumpers

We’ll be donning our seasonal sweaters on Friday 14 December for Christmas jumper day! Colleagues will be asked to donate £2 to wear their Christmas knits, and all money raised will go to Jersey Hospice Care and Les Bourgs Hospice in Guernsey, to help them continue their vital work in our communities.

6. Supporting the accessible Christmas shopping event in Guernsey

The accessible town project in Guernsey is an initiative by We all Matter Eh? It’s all about making shopping accessible for people with disabilities. They’re partnering with St Peter Port Christmas Lights Appeal to hold an Accessible Christmas Shopping and Lights Evening on 3 December. We’ll be taking part by holding a special quiet hour in our Market Street store between 5pm and 7pm. 

7. Supporting vulnerable islanders through our food donation boxes

This December we’re collecting food donations for local charities Jersey Women's Refuge (from 1-14 December) and Guernsey Welfare. In Jersey the collection boxes themselves have been created and donated by Jersey Prison, and in Guernsey they were made by Creative Learning in Prison (CLIP). We love this project because it benefits both the prisoners and the local beneficiaries of the charities! Food donations will be gratefully received in all Grand Marché stores in December.