Occasionally I help out at a charity, teaching leadership skills to teens. At a workshop I was leading a little while back, one of the kids said, "You're not being paid to be here?! So why do it? What do you get out of it?". My answer was that I do it for selfish reasons, to help keep me from going insane.

I said that sometimes, with some of the huge issues of the world, I feel overwhelmed. The plight of the Palestinians, climate change, the rise of fascism in the West, institutional racism, the radicalisation of our young men and the subsequent violence against women; the list goes on..

I want to help.. but what can I do to make a difference with such massive issues when I'm just one person?

I told the kids that you have to start with your own circle of influence, the people within your reach, within your own community. Use your voice and speak out, further the conversation around these issues. This can help more than we might realise. I also said that a brilliant course of action can be to join a cause. Increase your circle of influence through association with a larger entity. We're no longer an individual when we band together with others and if you join a group who are already in the process of trying to push a huge boulder, then you're far more likely to get it to move.

So here I am, again, hoping that my voice and support for another wonderful charity can:

- have a positive impact on our world

- keep me from losing the plot

Choose Love UK say of themselves:

"We’re a movement of people who are putting love into action. We get emergency aid and life-changing support directly to displaced communities, fast.

Since we started in 2015, we’ve worked with local partners across 51 countries and raised $160 million to support refugees.

Across the world, over 122 million people have been displaced, almost half of whom are children. Now is more important than ever to support displaced people, and to work together towards a world that chooses love for everyone.

We go where the need is greatest, find the local organizations doing the most effective work, and give them what they need to help people – whether that’s funding, material aid or volunteers.

From search and rescue and vital medical care to providing blankets and clean water, the way we support in emergency situations enables our partners on the ground to start saving lives straight away".

On the 17th of December, myself and a wonderful group of musicians will be performing at Northcote Records in Clapham. We will donate our time and our fees and, if you can, we ask that you help us to reach our fundraising goal.

Merry Christmas x