LiveTwice

The 11th June saw the launch of a new second chance charity founded by Liz Earle, broadcaster, entrepreneur and founder of the Liz Earle Beauty Co. LiveTwice works with disadvantaged people of all ages, giving funding to community centers in areas of social need as well as respite home-from-home for children with disabilities in a rural Dorset community. The main aim of LiveTwice is offer practical skills training and support to those who need it, giving real and practical help to those who've taken a wrong turn in life. 100% of the supporters donations go directly to these projects with the admin and running costs coming directly from the founders funding.

Donors can contribute to a specific project or place that interests them so they know where and how their money is being used. Liz says ‘LiveTwice already does a lot and there is a lot to do!  Over the years, my research and filming travels have taken me to people and places far and wide who are in desperate need of a helping hand.  LiveTwice provides just that-with a hand-up, not just a hand out.’ 

Liz Earle at the launch of Liz Earle’s charity, LiveTwice at the Light Gallery, Mayfair. For more information please visit http://www.livetwice.org/

Give and Makeup

I am one of those people that finds it hard to through useful things away. I'm not a hoarder but I can see how such a problem can get started. I'm signed up to Glossybox - a fantastic service where you get a box of goodies delivered every month - and the boxes are so pretty and useful that I cannot bring myself to chuck them out. As you can imagine, one a month means that quite a few have now been stacked up in my office, occasionally I use one to send someone something fragile or a make-up product I don't want to get squeezed in the post.

Then I came across Give and Makeup on twitter and suddenly I not only have the perfect use for  my old Glossyboxes but it is a great way to get rid of all those make-up and beauty products you don't use. I get sent quite a few things to test out, often all within the same range and there will be things I know I'm just never going to use, lipsticks and nail varnishes in the wrong colour, the majority of perfume samples I get from Glossybox and they just lie around unloved, taking up valuable space. I'm also terrible at going out and splurging on makeup in Boots and Superdrug and then getting home and finding I've already got something or I've bought it in completely the wrong colour - some end up in my kit, some just go to the back of my personal make-up box. My initial trawl through revealed two boxes worth of products. Now I'm just going to keep an old box in my office for anything that I don't want.

Initially you may wonder why make-up and beauty products are needed for charity - I mean, they are a bit of a luxury surely, but all the products donated go directly to Refuge and Women's Aid who help victims of domestic violence. Thousands of women and children have had to run from their homes to protect their lives and they have to leave everything behind. Give and Makeup need everything from everyday essentials - shampoo, condition, toothpaste, deodorant, to skincare - cleaners and moisturisers and the added extras - makeup, makeup brushes, perfume, nail varnish and even clothes and baby products. Rather than listing things on eBay why not make a box up and send it in? These amazing charities need your help and Give and Makeup is a fantastic way to do it.