Understanding the Different Kinds of Charities and Their Impact

Charities play a vital role in society, offering support, services, and advocacy across a wide range of causes. From protecting vulnerable animals to championing mental health, each different kind of charity serves a unique purpose. Countless charities are currently in operation, each working to improve lives, raise awareness, and create lasting change.

Understanding the different kinds of charities, and the impact they have on our society, can deepen our appreciation for their work and help us to choose where to spend our time and give our donations. Read on to learn more about the diverse range of national and global charities, helping you to find a charity with a mission that resonates with you.

Animal Welfare Charities

Animal welfare charities aim to protect all kinds of animals, both wild and domesticated, from harm or neglect, working to promote the good and responsible care of animals.

Animal welfare charities such as the RSPCA work to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals, campaigning for better animal welfare laws and treatment. On the other hand, wildlife conservation charities such as WWF are established with a view to conserving wildlife and protecting their ecosystems.

Health Charities

Health charities aim to improve people's physical and mental wellbeing, support those affected by illness or disability, and fund vital medical research and services.

Cancer charities such as Cancer Research UK fight against cancer by funding scientific research, raising cancer awareness, and helping to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Meanwhile, mental health charities such as Mind work to support those struggling with their mental health by offering advice and services and campaigning for better mental health provisions.

Educational Charities

Educational charities aim to make education more accessible, promoting literacy and reducing inequality by providing support and opportunities for learning.

Teacher training charities such as Teach First work to address the shortage in teachers by contributing to the costs associated with teacher training, increasing the number of teachers in the workforce and supporting teachers in their careers. Alternatively, children’s reading charities such as Book Trust work to combat the all-time lows in children’s literacy by supporting children’s continued growth and development with increased reading. These charities encourage early reading habits, provide books and literacy support, and help to foster a lifelong love of reading.

Religious Charities

Religious charities combine their spiritual values and ethos with humanitarian work, often supporting vulnerable people and promoting social justice.

Christian charities such as Christian Blind Mission are rooted in Christian values and provide essential support internationally. CBM UK, in particular, supports people who are struggling with blindness and sight-related disorders. Similarly, Jewish charities such as Norwood support and empower neurodiverse children and their families, and other people with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Environmental Charities

Environmental charities are dedicated to protecting our planet earth by addressing a range of important issues such as climate change, deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and much more.

International environmental charities such as Greenpeace campaign globally against environmental threats through peaceful protest, research, and advocacy. Meanwhile, woodland conservation charities such as The Woodland Trust focus on conserving and expanding the UK’s native woodlands to support wildlife and fight climate change. Collectively, these environmental charities raise public awareness and drive action towards a more sustainable future.

Human Rights Charities

Human rights charities work to protect people’s freedoms, uphold justice, and advocate for equality and dignity for all.

Global human rights charities such as Amnesty International work to expose human rights violations and pressure governments to uphold international laws and standards. Alternatively, legal advocacy charities such as Justice work to strengthen and bolster the legal system, promoting fair trials and equal access to justice through research and legal reform.