13 gifts that give back – make a difference this Christmas

Choose gifts that give back and use you wallet to make a difference this Christmas

Gifts that give back: Oh Whale butter dish
(Image credit: RNLI)

Looking for gifts that give back? Giving feels good – so good that we have devoted an entire holiday to it. But, as warm and fuzzy as it makes you feel when you find the perfect gift for everyone on your Christmas list, there is nothing quite as meaningful as finding a gift that gives back in an even bigger way. 

So, we’ve put together a list of gifts that will not only be loved by whomever you are buying for, but will also provide vital resources, funding and help to those in need. Because, isn’t that what Christmas is all about? 

1. Treat someone to a super goat

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Oxfam charity gifts

(Image credit: Oxfam)

Yep, you read that right. Oxfam Charity Gifts help fight poverty around the world by providing families with goats, pigs and chickens to help them get started. They also provide training to help people grow more crops, raise more animals and earn more income. 

2. A life-saving ceramic whale

Oh Whale Butter Dish

(Image credit: RNLI)

After the perfect gift for a foodie? Look no further than this adorable whale butter dish. Bonus: any profits from products bought through the RNLI online shop go to the charity, and it has some supremely lovely homeware if you want to do some guilt-free Christmas shopping for yourself.

3. A very magical unicorn

Pebble crocheted unicorn

(Image credit: The Big Issue)

Just another kid’s Christmas gift in the shape of a unicorn? No, we promise this one is different.

This crocheted unicorn is made by Pebble, a company that strives to help women in India have a better life by offering them fairly paid, good quality and flexible employment.

4. A body lotion with a cause 

Lush Charity Pot moisturiser

(Image credit: Lush)

This gorgeous smelling, super hydrating body lotion does wonders, and not just for your skin. With every purchase of Charity Pot, Lush donates 100 per cent of the price to small, grassroots organisations so they continue with their awesome work. 

Find more beauty gifts in our buying guide.

5. Shoes for shoes 

A familiar favorite. #TOMS TOMS

A photo posted by @toms on Oct 21, 2017 at 10:35am PDT

The Toms ‘One for One’ scheme is probably as well known as its super stylish slip-ons. With every pair of shoes bought, the company not only donates a pair of shoes to a child in need, but helps provide water, eye care and safe birth services for communities all over the world. 

6. A cruelty-free Christmas candle 

Winter Berries large scented Candle £17.95 annabeljames.co.uk

(Image credit: Annabel James)

Everyone loves a Christmas candle, and why not treat someone to a candle that also helps conserve all-important bees.

Beefayre is vegan friendly and Peta certified, plus it will donate three per cent of profits towards bee conservation and research, making it one of the best choices if you are after a cruelty-free candle. 

7. An educational cuppa 

Tea by Tea People

(Image credit: Tea People)

Not only does it produce award-winning teas that taste fantastic, but Tea People is also a social enterprise that sends 50 per cent of its profits to education projects in tea-growing regions. 

8. The soap that’s more than just a soap

Soap co. is a luxury skincare brand that is good and does good. All profits are reinvested into employing, training and supporting people with disabilities to build skills, confidence and independence.

One bottle of hand wash sold creates one hour of employment, with a bath or body oil creating two hours. Soap Co. currently employs more than 114 people across the country. 

9. The coffee that’s helping the homeless

Change Please coffee

(Image credit: The Big Issue)

Change Please coffee doesn’t just taste great (it’s all ethically sourced using the highest quality beans to achieve the perfect flavour), but the company also reinvests all of its profits to help people out of homelessness.

Change Please also helps find jobs for homeless people by training them to be baristas.

10. A cook book that funds life-saving research 

Heartfelt by Pippa Middleton

(Image credit: The British Heart Foundation)

Looking for the perfect gift for a foodie? The Heartfelt healthy recipe book was written by Pippa Middleton in collaboration with The British Heart Foundation.

It includes hundreds of delicious recipe ideas for breakfasts, family meals, romantic dinners and parties as well as lots of advice for eating a more heart-friendly diet. Better still, 100 per cent of the profits go to the BHF to fund life-saving research.

11. A treat tin to help abandoned dogs

(Image credit: The Dogs Trust)

Buying a Christmas gift for a pet lover? This treat tin from the Dogs Trust doesn’t just look cute – by buying it you will be helping save the lives of thousands of stray and abandoned doggies. 

12. A love giving T-shirt

Designed in collaboration with Katherine Hamnett (a super cool designer who is all about sustainable fashion) and the Help Refugees charity, these Choose Love T-shirts help raise funds and awareness for people caught up in the refugee crisis. 

13. Gorgeous sustainable bedding  

(Image credit: Rise&Fall)

Not only is this bedding from Rise&Fall sustainable with no plastic packaging, but it will also donate £3 for every sale of a bedding set to Centrepoint, a charity that helps young homeless people.

And, on top of all that, its factory employees and their families have access to free education plus the factory runs on 100 per cent green energy. Get this on your Christmas list for a home lover in your life right now.

Looking for more Christmas gift inspiration?

Hebe Hatton

Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.

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