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#Do1NiceThing is something we can all take part in! It is about loving the person in front of you, serving others and the wider community. It is about being the change, making positive steps to make life better for others and yourself in the process. The ideas are generally very simple and require not much thought or pre-planning. Love the person in front of you is a radical life and community transformation model!
In 2024 we are suggesting #Do1NiceThing as a Lent challenge. #Do1NiceThing came out of Street Angels and HOPE Together back in 2010 as Love Your Streets. We recognised that not everyone can walk the streets until the early hours of weekend mornings, however most people can commit to Love Your Streets! Taking responsibility for your community; bringing colour to the world around you; praying for your neighbourhood; caring for your neighbours; picking up litter; becoming a nicer driver; saying thank you; engaging in conversation with the shopkeeper; shopping locally or buying Fairtrade.... It's not a movement or anything weird, rather good old fashioned community spirit! In 2018 we were even featured in The Sun newspaper! It doesn't matter if you live in a town, city, village or country hamlet! If you go near a street or other people then this concept is for you. Spread some love, spread some hope, spread a smile, spread some random acts of kindness, love the person in front of you - help make our world an even better place to be!!!! |
#Do1NiceThing Ideas - The Adventure Begins!
Engage in conversation with the people who serve you (e.g. shopkeepers)
Say thank you to someone as they work and say how much you appreciate them
Yarn bomb Christmas Angels, Easter Chickens or Hearts! These cauld include chocolate or a cream egg - leave them in places (this is the yarn bomb part!) for people to find (this can become a community initiative which can be shared on social media). Patterns for: Easter Chick Knitting Pattern / Easter Chick Crochet Pattern / Christmas Angel Crochet Pattern / Christmas Angel Knitting Pattern / Heart Knitting Pattern
Call in on an elderly neighbour - take some cake, have a cup of tea and a chat
Shop locally and support local farmers, local veg growers and local shops
Show some love to your neighbourhood and pick up litter (please wear gloves and use a strong bag) or see if there is anything more you can recycle at home
Hold doors open for those behind you
Smile at people
Be a nice driver - spread road-calm!
Email / write to a local charity you think does a great work and thank them and those who volunteer
Take time to pray for your neighbours
Spread the niceness on social media - compliment some of your friends
Set up a Blessing Bag - a bag of items you keep in your car that can be used to bless other people or a Blessing Box outside your church building - place in it a few items that will bless others
Write a letter (or use social media) to a local emergency service and thank them for the work they do
Say hello to people
Look at joining or setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme
Spot ways of helping people and do it
Go on a thankful walk - see all the positive things you can be thankful for in your neighbourhood
Buy Fairtrade where you can today
Take a single person (elderly person, single mum...) out for lunch
Consider investing some time volunteering - could you give 24 hours over the next year?
Commit to collect used stamps for The Leprosy Mission or other charity
Catch a bus (#Do1NiceThing for the environment) and say thank you to the bus driver
Give a drink to a homeless person or take part in 'Suspended Coffee'
Email / write to your MP and say thank you for representing you and that you are praying for them
Take a prayer walk round your neighbourhood and pray for needs
Take some flowers to mothers and grandmas on your street
Buy seeds ready to create a wildlife garden (or tub or window box!)
Look for ways to volunteer one hour of your time for someone else (look at StreetBank for ideas)
E-Mail your local councillors and say thank you for what they do and offer to pray for them
Take time to discover some new tourist attraction in your area (eg wildlife park, play area, etc)
Give away a book you think is worth reading
Pay for the drink of the person behind you in a coffee shop
Write some inspirational messages on Post-It notes and randomly leave for people to find
Help someone down the stairs or hold open a door for someone with a pram
Look out for a stranger you can chat to - Small Talk Saves Lives (watch this powerful video...)
Say thank you to someone as they work and say how much you appreciate them
Yarn bomb Christmas Angels, Easter Chickens or Hearts! These cauld include chocolate or a cream egg - leave them in places (this is the yarn bomb part!) for people to find (this can become a community initiative which can be shared on social media). Patterns for: Easter Chick Knitting Pattern / Easter Chick Crochet Pattern / Christmas Angel Crochet Pattern / Christmas Angel Knitting Pattern / Heart Knitting Pattern
Call in on an elderly neighbour - take some cake, have a cup of tea and a chat
Shop locally and support local farmers, local veg growers and local shops
Show some love to your neighbourhood and pick up litter (please wear gloves and use a strong bag) or see if there is anything more you can recycle at home
Hold doors open for those behind you
Smile at people
Be a nice driver - spread road-calm!
Email / write to a local charity you think does a great work and thank them and those who volunteer
Take time to pray for your neighbours
Spread the niceness on social media - compliment some of your friends
Set up a Blessing Bag - a bag of items you keep in your car that can be used to bless other people or a Blessing Box outside your church building - place in it a few items that will bless others
Write a letter (or use social media) to a local emergency service and thank them for the work they do
Say hello to people
Look at joining or setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme
Spot ways of helping people and do it
Go on a thankful walk - see all the positive things you can be thankful for in your neighbourhood
Buy Fairtrade where you can today
Take a single person (elderly person, single mum...) out for lunch
Consider investing some time volunteering - could you give 24 hours over the next year?
Commit to collect used stamps for The Leprosy Mission or other charity
Catch a bus (#Do1NiceThing for the environment) and say thank you to the bus driver
Give a drink to a homeless person or take part in 'Suspended Coffee'
Email / write to your MP and say thank you for representing you and that you are praying for them
Take a prayer walk round your neighbourhood and pray for needs
Take some flowers to mothers and grandmas on your street
Buy seeds ready to create a wildlife garden (or tub or window box!)
Look for ways to volunteer one hour of your time for someone else (look at StreetBank for ideas)
E-Mail your local councillors and say thank you for what they do and offer to pray for them
Take time to discover some new tourist attraction in your area (eg wildlife park, play area, etc)
Give away a book you think is worth reading
Pay for the drink of the person behind you in a coffee shop
Write some inspirational messages on Post-It notes and randomly leave for people to find
Help someone down the stairs or hold open a door for someone with a pram
Look out for a stranger you can chat to - Small Talk Saves Lives (watch this powerful video...)
Offer your skills to someone else for free
Write a letter to the boss of someone who has given excellent customer service to tell them so
Clear out unwanted items and give to a charity shop
Organise a free car wash for your community
Thank people for the virtues they have
Send flowers to a friend as a thank you for your friendship
Give a New Testament or inspirational book to someone you don't know
Take a box of chocolates to work and say thank you to your colleagues
Serve someone
Put spare change in a charity box
Visit a local shop you have not visited before or in a while (support locally!)
