Life on benefits can feel un-surviveable at the best of times. Christmas, the season 'to be jolly', can feel like salt in the wound. All around us, adverts suggest that we should be buying things we can't afford if we are to make those we love happy.

Our lives are plagued by worrying news reports of Brexit, Syria, the American presidential campaign, the Tory cuts to benefits, the persistent threats to our healthcare system...and so on and so forth. We are often left feeling powerless to overcome the hopelessness and despair.

But what if we were to turn this on it's head?

What if instead of sending those pieces of festive card we spend money on, and buying presents that we aren't even sure that people will like, we were all to pledge what we can spare to those who have next to nothing?

Hit businesses where it hurts and narrow their profit margins.

Give something back and potentially reduce the number of lives lost through stress, depression and deprivation.

Feel as though there was a way of making a difference and sticking a big two fingers up to those who've decimated our welfare state?

It might not be the answer, it might not solve the worlds problems.

But if you're going to send me a christmas card this year, please don't. Pledge instead. 10p to the sky's the limit.

How about rather than an advent calendar, you buy a spare item of food and donate it to a foodbank.

If I can raise £100 to donate to a local foodbank I'll have the best Christmas I've ever had.

If you can raise another £100 by stealing my idea, then who knows how many other people might have their best Christmas too? Or at the very least, not have their worst.

It's worth more than money. It's worth feeling as though humanity and community and hope isn't as lost as it sometimes feels.

Set up a crowd funding page by clicking the link. Or just donate. Either way, lets all do something good - for ourselves and for others.

Happy Christmas everyone.