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Conversations around kindness have become more prevalent in recent times. Now, more than ever, it is so important to be kind, in real life, online, in business, and in your personal life. Sadly, when emotions or stress runs high, kindness can be the first thing to go. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. What if we could all learn to keep kindness at the forefront of our minds?
Back in 2013, Jamie Thurston saw an ad from someone looking for a rug. Jamie got in touch with her and discovered that she wanted a rug to cover her floor so her children wouldn’t cut their feet. Sadly, she had just left a horrifying domestic situation, was a single mum and had nothing to her name.
Jamie was keen to help. She also thought that should other people know about the situation this woman was in, others would want to help too.
And so 52 Lives was born.
Starting as a friends and family group, 52 Lives has since grown into a global community. Jamie began a Facebook group after speaking with her friends and family who wanted to donate household goods. After delivering items to the woman in need, Jamie decided this was something she wanted to do every week, to show kindness and help others in need.
52 Lives now helps a different person or family every week. The charity has a big community on social media, where houses are furnished, operations are paid for, wheelchairs are acquired and even birthday cards are sent to those who need a pick me up.
Every week, the charity helps someone new who is in need by sharing their story on their website and social media platforms. In the eight years since 52 Lives has been established, the charity has helped to change many, many lives.
There was a young boy who suffered a catastrophic head injury and had been left severely disabled. With the help of the 52 Lives community, they were able to provide a specialist chair so he would be able to sit up straight, meaning he could enjoy time with his family. Or the young teenager who had left her family home to escape physical, sexual and emotional abuse from multiple family members. Having been exposed to drugs and not been to school for years, she was taken in by an elderly aunt, who wanted to help her, but sadly didn’t have the money, space or resources to.
With the help of the 52 Lives community, enough money was raised and donations made meant that she has been able to get furniture, bedding, curtains, clothes, school supplies, school uniform and shoes, plus they were able to fulfil her aunt’s wish to build a small summer house in the garden, to give her a space to call her own. That young girl now has a better chance at living the life she deserves, knowing that there is kindness out there in the world, which she hadn’t ever experienced before.
52 Lives have also launched the School of Kindness which delivers free kindness workshops to schools and over 5,000 children every year throughout the UK. Children have the opportunity to learn about the science behind kindness, helping to empower them to understand that even the small choices they make each day can change people’s lives. At these workshops, children also have the opportunity to make cards, pictures and messages for someone of those lives being helped by 52 Lives.
In 2021, The School of Kindness aims to virtually deliver these workshops to 10,000 children, as well as providing lesson plans and access to grant schemes to reward children for their ideas to spread kindness. 100% of the money they raise goes to helping others with core costs covered by corporate sponsors. The School of Kindness also offers schools and organisations such as children’s centres and women’s refuges, the chance to ask for help or offer help in their ‘Pick a Project’ programme. Providing a platform for this type of exchange has allowed The School of Kindness to reach even more people.
So, how can we learn from 52 Lives and The School of Kindness? Here are some ideas to inject some kindness into your day.
Make A Referral
Referring business to someone in your network, for example, can help build relationships and in turn, can grow a strong network. It also helps you to win trust which can gain you more customers. A win, win on all counts.
Say Thanks To Your Team
It doesn’t take much to say thank you. Saying thank you to members of your team at work can be a real morale boost, and it doesn’t cost anything, but it can mean a lot to people.
Phone A Friend
It is easy to send a quick WhatsApp message or ping an email to someone asking them how they are, but how about picking up the phone? A spontaneous call from a dear friend is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face, so why not give it a go?
Send A Card
Receiving snail mail can be a joyous thing, (though obviously not the bill kind!) But it doesn’t have to be someone’s birthday to send a card. How about sending a card to someone with some news instead of sending an email, or just a card with a nice picture on the front as you saw it and thought of that person?
Offer To Be A Mentor
Do you remember what it was like starting out in the professional world? It can be a daunting place, and everyone has to start somewhere. Why not offer to mentor someone in your industry who is just starting out? It can be a great way to offer your services and help someone, and you never know what may come of it.
Nominate Someone In Need
Do you know someone who could do with a kind word? Or someone who is struggling to make ends meet? Submit your nominations to 52 Lives here.
To find out more about the work of 52 Lives, head over to their website!
