11 gift subscriptions that do a world of good

11 gift subscriptions that do a world of good

While the classic monthly direct-debit model still provides the biggest chunk of crucial revenue for most charitable organisations, subscriptions and memberships that put a little reward through the postbox can be a good incentive to stay engaged with the issues – a pay-and-stay-tuned mentality, as it were. Gartner, the global research and advisory business, has found that 75 per cent of all companies that sell directly to consumers will offer a subscription service of some kind by 2023 – which means more avenues to give to affiliated charities. Here are some of the call-to-action apps, platforms and online shops that promote the impetus for giving.

Plants for the lonely

Isolation and loneliness have become an urgent issue during the pandemic. Bloombox Club, an indoor plant subscription service, is billed as “plant-care and self-care” in a box, and was founded by psychologist Dr Katie Cooper, who uses plants in her therapeutic practice, having noticed the benefits of growing and connecting with nature among her lonely patients. An annual subscription of £440 buys 12 boxes of large- and medium-sized plants, each one themed to a particular therapeutic benefit, along with a unique plant of the month in a ceramic pot or basket, a digital gift card, and a wealth of educational materials on ways that plant