World Kindness Day: the UK’s kindest cities revealed
●Bristolians do the most good deeds per year
As we celebrate World Kindness Day (13th November 2021), research carried out by GalaBingo.com and its charity partner, 52 Lives, has revealed the UK cities which perform the most ‘good deeds’ on a regular basis, from offering up seats to the elderly, to donating to charity and picking up litter.
Bristol was crowned the UK’s kindest city, with the highest average number of good deeds done per person, per year.
Across the country, people typically do two or three good deeds in a year, with the most common acts being donating to a charity/the homeless (57%), offering to help a stranger in need (52%) or offering to help a loved one (49%).
The UK’s 10 kindest cities are:
- Bristol
- Leeds
- Southampton
- Cardiff
- Coventry
- Glasgow
- Belfast
- Nottingham
- Manchester
- York
Expert psychotherapist and founder of The Luna Hive, Dr. Jo Gee, offers insight on the unexpected benefits of selflessness: “Being kind and generous is good for your body and mind. When we do something nice for others, our brain releases serotonin and dopamine, our feel-good neurotransmitters. This release not only makes us feel happier, but also eases feelings of anxiety and increases self-esteem.”
In some ways, the difficulties of the last two years have again brought the best out of Brits and here’s what you can do in the kindest cities to give back this World Kindness Day.
Every Saturday volunteers can pick up 60 – 100kg of surplus food donated by supermarkets and local retailers to cook nutritious meals for people at Barton Hill Settlement on Ducie Road, Bristol. The charity is always looking for more volunteers to join the hosting or cooking team.
Leeds Mencap is an independent charity offering important services to people with learning disabilities, who are on hand to provide advice, support and long-term help to those in need. You can get involved by participating in an event, volunteering, or involving your workplace in fundraising to make a difference.
Southampton’s Hospital Charity
Southampton Hospitals Charity helps to enhance the care and treatment of patients at University Hospital Southampton. They work with supporters to raise money to provide financial support to areas of the hospital service that lie beyond the scope of NHS funding. This Christmas they want to bring magic to their wards and by donating even a small amount you can make that happen.
Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale
Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale help and support local older people and their families through some of the most difficult times in their life. They are committed to tackling loneliness, isolation and poverty amongst older people and strive to create a society where older people are respected, valued and heard. You can help by volunteering to do socially distanced befriending and telephone befriending, shopping and collection of prescriptions.
Love Coventry is a local charity who encourage people to give back to the community through volunteering, providing goods that can be resold or recycled and by donating a small amount of money to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable in the city, the money raised is used to help support community and charitable groups working in Coventry and the surrounding areas.
GalaBingo.com’s head of brand marketing, Karina Adrian, said: “It’s amazing how acts of kindness no matter how big or small can really change someone’s life and have such a huge impact on someone.
“Our charity partner, 52 Lives, would never be able to accomplish any of the life-changing work that they do without the kindness and generosity of the British public, and recently these traits have been on show more than ever before. We want to say a huge thank you.”
52 Lives aims to change a person’s life every week by spreading kindness and generosity. This year alone, GalaBingo.com has raised £39,020.06 for the charity and since the partnership started, they have raised a staggering £472,561.74.
For more information on GalaBingo.com’s partnership with 52 Lives, please visit: https://www.galabingo.com/en/p/promotions/52-lives