Join in with Altruistic August

Creating a wave of kindness to spread around the world, this month’s Action For Happiness Calendar’s theme is ‘Altruistic August’, all about the selfless concern for the wellbeing and welfare of others, often without any expectation of personal gain or reward.

Practising altruism can bring joy and fulfilment to both the giver and the receiver. Here are five ways you can be altruistic this August:

Volunteer Your Time: Offer your skills and time to support organisations or causes that are meaningful to you. Whether it’s volunteering at a care home, helping with community events or offering up your time to help someone, your efforts can make a real difference. In fact, if you’re in the Hampshire area, the Queen Alexandra Hospital’s Macmillan Centre in Portsmouth is always on the hunt for volunteers. Call them on 02392 283323 to get involved.

Equally, the University College London Hospital is also on the lookout for volunteers, ideal for recently qualified therapists, experienced therapists and therapists wishing to practice their new skills. If you would like to join in with offering NHS staff treatments, get in contact with Amanda Tata at amanda.tata@nhs.net.

Donate to Charitable Causes: Financial contributions to charitable organisations can have a significant impact on those in need. Research and identify reputable charities that align with your values and donate what you can afford to support their initiatives. If it applies, you can still donate to the FHT Team supporting Cancer Research UK. Donate to the team here.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness: Simple acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Hold the door open for someone, offer a smile to a stranger or buy a coffee for the person behind you in line. These small gestures can create a ripple effect of positivity.

Support Friends and Family: Being altruistic doesn’t have to be limited to strangers. Offer support and help to friends or family members going through difficult times. A listening ear, a supportive shoulder, a treatment of their choice or practical assistance can make a significant difference in their lives.

Mentor and Share Knowledge: Share your expertise or knowledge with others who can benefit from it. Mentoring someone, whether in your field of work, a hobby or academics, can be incredibly rewarding and help others grow and achieve their goals. In fact, you could even set up a Local Group, supported by the FHT, or join in on a local one near you and share your tips. The FHT currently have a Quarterly Survey to see how we can make our Local Groups even better, spend two minutes to fill it out here.

Remember that being altruistic doesn’t necessarily require grand gestures; even small acts of kindness can have a positive impact on others’ lives. The most important thing is to act with sincerity and genuine concern for the wellbeing of others.

The calendar is free to download as a PDF or image file (JPEG) in 16 different languages.

You can also download the actions straight to your calendar using a Google Calendar or iCalendar file.

Take a look at the other prompts on the Action for Happiness website, or download the calendar here.