At time of writing, it’s coming up to Christmas, and the very best thing you can do is get a present for someone you don’t know. That’s where Concern come in – the charity gift site.

It’s gratifying to know that you can actually make a difference to someone’s life, and with this practical present (a donkey), you can help farmers bring in the crops they need to survive. Donkeys are great things, actually. Far from the depressed ones at Blackpool, they’re real hard workers. I saw some on the Ile de Re bringing in the salt and they were all wearing trousers. Google it. In the meantime, join Practical Presents and get someone a gift that matters.

The Blue Cross is rapidly becoming one of the UK’s most important animal rescue charities. It rehomes almost 6,000 unwanted and homeless animals each year, and they never put an animal to sleep.