£2 billion spent on unwanted gifts - get Practical this Christmas
Press release, 20 October 2009
More than half of the UK population will receive unwanted Christmas gifts this year, according to international development charity Practical Action.
And with three quarters of people in the UK admitting to wasting £50 on unwanted Christmas presents every year - a total of £2 billion - Practical Action is urging festive shoppers to buy a gift which could make the world of difference to someone's life.
The charity's 'Practical Presents' scheme allows people to choose unique and clever gifts which can vastly improve people's quality of life, now and in the future.
'Unique ewes', 'gorgeous goats', dynamic donkeys and fluffy ducks are just some of the Christmas gifts on offer to big hearted shoppers this year.
The new Practical Presents catalogue and website www.practicalpresents.org.uk is packed with innovative gifts which aim to benefit people in the developing world. Prices start from just £8.
Research has also shown that people are thinking more carefully about how they will be spending their money this Christmas, and Practical Action is encouraging people to divert some of this to a gift which could have a major impact on some of the world's poor.
Stephen Harvey, Practical Action's Head of Public Fundraising, said: "Unwanted gifts end up forgotten about in the back of people's cupboards every year, and two thirds of people have said they would rather receive one less Christmas gift and have a charitable donation made instead. Buying a Practical Present will mean your friends and family still receive a gift, while knowing it really is making someone's life better."
"Novelty socks can't fight poverty but buying a Practical Present can. It really is an ideal way to buy for friends and family while making a real difference toa poor community," he added.
Gifts include ducks for families in Bangladesh to provide eggs and a livelihood through breeding, goats in Sudan to produce milk and cuddly alpacas meaning Peruvian families have access to milk and wool all year round.
For the more technically-minded shopper smoke hoods in Nepal to reduce smoke pollution, floating gardens in Bangladesh and showers and toilets on African slums are also on offer.
As well as a special gift card to personalise the present, shoppers will also receive photographs and details of the Practical Presents Gift Idea they are interested in, along with a Nepalese bookmark.
Larger gifts such as micro hydro schemes are also available.
Shoppers can browse the brand new Practical Presents catalogue on-line at www.practicalpresents.org.uk or request a copy on 0845 108 3057.
- Research: Independent Media News
For more information, please contact: Jane Eason, Practical Action Media Officer, Tel: 01926 634510, Out of Hours: 07970 285823, E-mail: jane.eason@practicalaction.org.uk
