6 Charities Close To The SL Team’s Hearts

“Becoming a mum has opened my eyes to how vital both the NCT and the Lullaby Trust are for new parents. I did the classic NCT course before giving birth – mainly to meet other local mums – but had no idea it was a charity or just how much it does behind the scenes to support families. The NCT breastfeeding support line was a lifeline for us in the early weeks, and its wider work – from campaigning for better maternal care to offering accessible support networks across the country – is invaluable. I also found myself turning to the Lullaby Trust time and again, especially in the middle of the night when I’d be triple-checking safe sleep guidelines. Its resources are reassuring and evidence-based – covering everything from room temperatures to SIDS awareness. Tragically, close friends of ours recently lost their baby to SIDS, and the Lullaby Trust’s work now feels more important than ever. It not only provides trusted advice for safer sleep, but also offers specialist bereavement support to families and funds vital research that could help prevent future loss.”

Visit NCT.ORG.UK & LULLABYTRUST.ORG.UK 

“CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) is a charity that means a great deal to me, as it supports people struggling with their mental health – something that has deeply affected my own family. I witnessed a family member go through an incredibly dark time, fighting for their life, and it was one of the most painful and frightening experiences I’ve ever faced. I am beyond grateful that they are still here with us, and I know that not every family is so lucky. CALM’s mission to stand against suicide and offer a lifeline to those in crisis is something I wholeheartedly support. Their work saves lives, raises awareness, and helps break down the stigma around mental health – and that’s something truly powerful.”

Visit THECALMZONE.NET

“I’ve seen first-hand the incredible impact of The Change Foundation’s work. It uses sport as a tool to support and empower young people from marginalised communities, helping them build confidence, develop new skills and create brighter futures. I was first introduced to the charity in 2023 through a family friend who encouraged me to join the Hunza G x The Change Foundation netball team. A year later, SheerLuxe got involved and what started as a fun way to get active became something much more meaningful. As someone who’s never felt like very confident about sports, it was such an uplifting experience. I also really admire the work of Football Journeys, another charity dedicated to uniting young people from different communities through shared experiences, storytelling and a love of football. Helping young people step outside their comfort zones, gain new skills and strengthen their belief in a more inclusive society, it proves how powerful sport can be in creating social impact.”

Visit FOOTBALLJOURNEYS.ORG & follow @THECHANGEFOUNDATION

“I’m proud to support Youth Music, a charity that funds local music projects to give children and young people, regardless of their background, the chance to make music. Having played the violin since the age of seven and later composed music myself, I’ve experienced first hand the confidence, creativity and joy that music can bring. It’s had such a positive impact on my life, which is why I believe every child should have the opportunity to access it.”

Visit YOUTHMUSIC.ORG.UK

“I was 13 when my mum was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, and 17 when she fell ill with sepsis, which unfortunately meant she was put into an induced coma for seven weeks. I spent a significant amount of my teens travelling to and from the ICU with my family. Because we’d never been through anything like that before, we had to learn how to support each other. Macmillan Cancer Support is so proactive in all it does for those battling cancer, and for the families doing the best they can. Not everyone knows that Macmillan has an online community forum, which is a great outlet for anyone seeking comfort and reassurance, while the 'ask the expert' section on its website is a great resource for curious minds. My mum has now been in remission for ten years and it’s great to see how much Macmillan has grown over that time thanks to continued donations and increased support.”

Visit COMMUNITY.MACMILLAN.ORG.UK

“In November 2021, I was devastated to hear of an Afghan cyclist who was beheaded – an act meant to serve as a warning to Afghan girls simply for playing sport and daring to defy the Taliban. In response, my mum started campaigning tirelessly for the freedom of a group of young Afghan female cyclists. A year later, her efforts were successful and these brave young women were granted resettlement in the UK. Forced to flee their homeland, they left behind family, friends and everything familiar – knowing they might never return. The story of these courageous girls was later featured on the BBC. Help Children Now is a small charity of volunteers who continue to help young, persecuted Afghan girls denied so many basic things we take for granted – education, self-expression, listening to music, wearing make-up, participating in sport, or even just walking to the shop alone. It has also supported over 1,000 Ukrainian refugees, and this year has committed to supporting vulnerable children suffering hardship across the UK.”

Visit HELPCHILDRENNOW.ORG.UK