Holidays are coming... so start saving stamps for charities

Christmas is rapidly approaching, dare I say it, and so is the time for posting cards & letters to friends & family at home and abroad.

In all the run up to Christmas & the holiday season, please don't forget that many charities can benefit from the stamps you get on cards posted to you. Every little counts. British & international stamps are welcome - best you divide the two into two piles - UK & abroad - if you're sending them in from the UK, to help those volunteers who'll be dealing with them on receipt of your stamps.

Many charities have had a very difficult year so let's all see what we can do to help. Ask neighbours, friends, relatives, work colleagues & anyone you can think of to get involved & give you their stamps. Once winter really sets in, you may be glad of an excuse to spend an evening in, sorting out your stamps to send into animal charities.

And to motivate you, here's a story about a gran who collected one million postage stamps for charity!

Help donkeys by collecting stamps

The Devon-based Donkey Sanctuary would be very happy to receive used postage stamps, both international and UK. The Sanctuary works worldwide to help care for and treat donkeys and educate the public (most specifically owners and children) in all aspects of donkey care.

The charity has free educational programmes and mobile clinics running in Egypt, Ethiopia, Mexico, India and Kenya, and also it has set up sanctuaries in Spain and Italy. You can find out how effective this education just here.

The Donkey Sanctuary has cared for over 12,000 donkeys in its lifetime. And a good number of the donkeys who come into rescue often find themselves with second careers, visiting elderly people in residential homes or working with children with special needs.

You can find out more about the Donkey Sanctuary here - there are some wonderful videos to watch - check out Teddy's antics.

And please send your stamps to The Donkey Sanctuary (Used Stamps), Sidmouth, Devon EX10 0NU. Thank you! The charity asks that you send large bundles of stamps to save on postage and packing.

Stamps from outside UK help too

Non-UK stamps are welcomed by UK animal charities as well as UK ones.

Most of the charities currently on the list on this blog do a lot of work to help animals outside the UK and in it, e.g. Nowzad Dogs help dogs in Afghanistan and the Donkey Sanctuary which helps donkeys all over the world.

You really can help animals all over the world from wherever you are, so get collecting. If you can't choose between two charities, divide your haul between them.

Collectable envelopes help animal charities

Talking of stamp collecting...be they old or new...

Most people know that you can collect stamps, but did you know that you can collect envelope First Day Covers too? And that your collection may well help charities?

So as well as passing used stamps on to animal charities, you can buy collectables and help both animal and human organisations working to make life better for those in need. The Endangered Plants Cover below has been produced with the Kent Wildlife Trust, and you can get an edition signed by weather girl Kaddy Lee-Preston.

Specialist collectors refer to an envelope as a “cover”. This goes back to the times when messages were wrapped in a cover of silk or oiled cloth to keep them safe.

Philatelic specialists Buckingham Covers produce beautifully illustrated collectable envelopes called First Day Covers. These envelopes include genuine Royal Mail stamps and a relevant postmark.

Buckingham Covers produce limited numbers of each cover, so they hold their value, but prices are really very affordable. Many of the covers are produced in association with charities, who benefit from each sale. So when you’re investing in a cover, you’re often also helping a charity, too. That’s a great win-win. And Buckingham Covers has helped a lot of charities in producing these beautiful products.

And there's a range of charities, too, including Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, SPANA (who help animals in Africa and the Middle East), the Douglas Bader Foundation...Buckingham Covers worked to produce Ivor the Engine collectable with SPANA, pictured above, Peter Firmin's favourite charity, and you can get his signature on either a presentation pack or single sheet.

Many covers have been signed by well known people. For instance, the cover “Fabulous Hats - Royal Ascot” has been signed by Willie Carson, another by Lester Piggott. Signatures are 100% genuine. Buckingham Covers go to great lengths to ensure that EVERY new First Day Cover they produce has a relevant signature, in some cases more than one.

Covers make wonderful collectable items for you or a loved one as a gift. Themes include trains, boats, planes, the military, royalty, books, sports, films, animals, flowers & nature, transport - so there's lots to choose from.

It's a lovely way to invest in something for yourself or a loved one while helping a cause you care about out. Take a look at the themes available and treat yourself!

Animal charities need used postage stamps

Save used stamps for animal charities...

Anyone can get involved, including children & elderly people. Charities usually ask that you leave a small edge around the stamp when you cut, rather than tear the stamps off and damage it.

This can be a very easy thing to do. Get neighbours, friends, work colleagues & relatives, plus local businesses & schools (e.g. pubs to do a collection box for used stamps) to get involved?

Animal charities need used postage stamps. They can sell them on to raise much needed funds.

The Oldies Club

Here's a great chance to help rehome older dogs in the UK। Mature dogs are all too often overlooked in favour of puppies, although they find themselves looking for a new home because their owners have died or had to move into a nursing home where it has not been possible to take the pet, or for all sorts of other reasons. Mature animals make very loving pets. Send UK/other stamps to Oldies Club Stamps, c/o 14 Colwyn Terrace, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS11 6RB.

Save the Albatrosses

The RSPB can raise money from ALL types of stamps for their Save the Albatross campaign – whether they are used or un-used, UK, foreign or even first day covers.

Nowzad Dogs

This charity looks to help and rescue dogs in Afghanistan who have no-one else to care for them. Its story is amazing. Please send your stamps to "Nowzad Dogs, PO Box 3495, Corsham, SN13 7AE, UK.

Bransby Home of Rest

The home currently has over 280 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys & mules in its care. Still more are fostered out. Send used postage stamps to the home to help horses.

The PDSA

Please send used stamps to the PDSA Stamp Appeal, PO Box 9191, Wishaw, Lanarkshire ML2 0YB and you'll help them in their work to care for the sick and injured animals of owners in need.

The WWF

Please send your stamps to WWF UK. Panda House, Weyside Park, Catteshall Lane, Godalming. Surrey. GU7 1XR

Start saving those stamps today. Keep a jar or envelope for them somewhere you can easily find it, such as by your telephone. It's a little action - but it can make a big difference.