**If you’re looking to have a more eco Christmas this year, you’ve come to the right place. This is not a sponsored post, but does contain links to other blogs I have written and sites you might find useful.
Calling time on pointless gifts to create a more eco Christmas
I have always been a thoughtful gift giver. Plus I’m thrifty beyond belief, with a brilliant eye for bargains. I can walk out of a charity shop with a carrier bag chock full (of often brand new goodies!) for a tenner. It drives my husband mad, because on the rare occasion he ventures into one, he doesn’t find a thing.
I also love to make edible and drinkable gifts as well as natural toiletries. Over the years I’ve been known to dedicate entire weeks to the gift making cause.
These days, I don’t get nearly as much opportunity to source or make presents. Unless my heart has gone into it, giving gifts for the sake of it just feels meh. Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoy putting together packages to send in the post. Spoiling friends, who are busy taking care of their own kids and are often forgotten about, is one of my favourite things to do. Obligation giving just does not sit right with me anymore though. Especially for children (more on that later).
Think of other ways to celebrate the countdown to Christmas
Call me jaded, but this will be my tenth Christmas as a parent. My views have changed somewhat over the years, and I have come to absolutely abhor kids advent calendars. Along with elf on the shelf, Christmas Eve boxes and everything else that leads to over excitement central.
They caused my children nothing but abject misery, so we stopped trying to keep up with what everyone else was doing two years ago. Instead we did a kindness challenge countdown, which was hugely successful. Each day between the first and twenty fourth of December, my kids were given a task to promote kindness within the home. You can read about it here if you like.
Last year we had our biggest sort through of clothes and toys ever, and donated everything to a local centre who provide for women and children in refuges. This year we shall be putting together bags of hygiene products, for our local hygiene bank. Take a look at their campaign on Instagram for all the details.
Becoming more eco-minded isn’t just about Christmas
As my kids get older, I want to steer them away from mountains of stuff twice a year. I want them to have memorable experiences, and fun days they can look back on. Also, I don’t want them to have unrealistic expectations. The idea that people automatically give us things, simply because it’s our birthday or Christmas is a concept mine find hard to understand. If someone isn’t in our lives on a day to day basis, they are in danger of being known as “such and such who sends us stuff.” Which is not good for anyone concerned.
The solution, and quickest way to be more eco (especially at Christmas time) is to opt out of consuming cheap products. Fast food, fast fashion, plastic crap the children get bored of after five minutes. Don’t even get me started on the disgustingly toxic paraben-loaded toiletry sets that are in every supermarket from the beginning of October. It’s all such bad news for the environment, and who really enjoys receiving these types of gifts? So let’s break this wasteful cycle. Giving pointless and unnecessary presents, purely because the calendar tells us to, has to stop.
Of course, there are some very lovely companies out there. Ones who consider the environment at every angle, and donate to many charities. Here are some of my faves: Librio, who make beautiful personalised kids books. Figtree Clothing, who promote a zero waste lifestyle, as well as selling stunning organic clothing and well sourced natural toiletries. Savon Stories, who hand make organic beauty products.
Try making your own gifts for a more eco Christmas
Home made gifts really are the best. I get such pleasure from giving things I’ve created myself, and they are always appreciated and gratefully received. Over the years my nearest and dearest have been treated to delicious sweet treats such as truffles, brownies, energy balls and biscuits. Savoury delights including pickles, chutneys and infused oils. Face masks, body scrubs and lots of random bits and bobs I can’t even remember.
If you’re in the market for making, check out this Pinterest board, which is chock full of gift making inspiration.
You might also like my epic (or so I am told) choco-coffee liqueur…
Will you be trying to have a more eco Christmas this year? Remember small steps lead to big changes!
My 9yo Polly wrote this blog and took the photos herself. These paleo chocolate cupcakes are an adaption of an old recipe of mine Polly found in a cooking journal from the early naughties. She changed lots of the ingredients so the recipe would be grain free and much lower in sugar. Please note, I have not edited this post.
Hi everyone Polly here. I haven’t written a blog in about a year so I’m going to write one. I was just slouching around and I didn’t really now what to do with my day so I thought I would write a blog. I’m 9 now so writing is easier! This is literally the best paleo chocolate cupcake recipe ever. A couple of days ago I made it for loads of friends (they loved it) hope you like it too. Let’s get started!
Ingredients to make 12 cupcakes:
100g Ground Almonds
62g Coconut Sugar
15g Cacao Powder
37g Good Quality melted Butter
100ml Milk
1 large egg (If small 2)
1/2 Tea Spoon bicarb
For the buttercream:
100g Butter softened
1 table spoon Honey
For the caramel:
100g butter
100g coconut sugar
Paleo Chocolate Cupcake Method:
– Pre-Heat oven to 170c
– In one bowl mix ground almonds,coconut sugar,cacao+bicarb
-In another bowl mix the melted butter,egg and milk
-Mix both bowls together
-Put batter into cases
-Bake for 18-20 mins
Caramel Buttercream Method:
-Melt the butter+sugar together
-Once melted whisk with a non-electric whisk
-In a bowl with a electric whisk mix the butter+honey together
-Add caramel and whisk until buttercream consistency
-Once whisked put in piping bag and in the fridge to set it a little bit
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid steroid hormone, produced in humans by the adrenal gland. It is released in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration. In other words, too much stress can lead to too much cortisol being produced. This can trigger a whole host of problems, including depression, weight gain and reduced libido.
Regular readers will know that I had a very unstable, dysfunctional childhood. There was so much change, and so much threat, that I spent it in a perpetual state of fight or flight. Unsurprisingly this caused an imbalance in my cortisol levels. Now that chronic stress provides the backdrop to my family life, I do everything in my power to lower them. I hope you find this piece useful.
Consider natural supplementation to help lower your high cortisol levels
I could write all day long about the importance of gut health, and the link between the gut and brain. If your gut has a disproportionate amount of bad bacteria to good, your mental health will absolutely suffer. Ever since doing the gut healing GAPS Diet in 2014, I have been a massive advocate for probiotics, which naturally boost the good bacteria. I make my own kefir, kombucha, goat milk yogurt and fermented veggies, which I eat and drink every single day. In addition I take good quality natural supplements in the form of 5-HTP (for boosting serotonin) and evening primrose oil (to help take the edge off PMT). Last month I started taking Zenflore, which is known as a physcobiotic. Which not only aims to increase good gut bacteria, but also helps to reduce high cortisol levels.
Zenflore contains 1714-Serenitas, a bacterial culture which increases the activity in the areas of the brain associated with emotions, learning and memory. The 1714-Serenitas culture in Zenflore is also involved in regulating the immune system which is vital for our health and wellbeing. Zenflore’s unique live culture and specially selected B vitamins work in harmony to support the mind and body during busy and demanding times. Check out the video below, for a more detailed explanation of the link between the gut and brain.
My experience of Zenflore
I eat a very natural diet of real food, and run a non-toxic household. Day to day we eat Paleo, which means no refined sugar, no starchy carbs and nothing processed (check out my YouTube channel for lots of tasty recipes). We simply do not do chemicals here – I even make my own deodorant. I truly believe, because of this, I’m very in tune with my body.
During the first few days of taking Zenflore I had mild diarrhoea and the start of a cold. This is quite a common reaction as the body adjusts to the influx of a new bacterial strain. By day five my stools were solid and I had no sign of the cold. I felt good within myself and healthy.
I have trialed many supplements over the years, and if they are going to have the desired effect (lots of them don’t!) then I feel it pretty quickly. After about ten days, I filmed a set of Instagram stories, which have been saved as a highlight on my profile marked Zenflore. I was in the midst of yet another super stressful time, as I’d had two weekends away a fortnight apart, and the kids were not happy with me. It was a pleasant surprise for me to not feel like they were pushing all my buttons and tipping me over the edge. Obviously it could have just been a coincidence, but I’m convinced it was the Zenflore working it’s magic.
Sleep in my house has massively nose dived in the last few months, and my youngest is once again in the marital bed every night. He’s become a terrible bed sharer, and often wakes me up by kicking me in the head, laying diagonally across the pillows or pulling my hair. I also average one super early wake up a week – where I get up for the day anything between 3:30-4:30am, so I can write.
Although I’ve felt shattered, through tiredness, I can honestly say I haven’t been as stressed out as I have been previously. Which is absolutely huge for me. When you’re home educating three children – one of whom is autistic – you cannot underestimate the effect of trying to hold it all together while chronically stressed.
I would be lying if I said my sleep has improved ten fold and I’m as zen as I would be after a pilates retreat, every day. BUT I do feel like Zenflore has given me a much needed happiness boost, and that’s all I can ask for from a supplement.
Other lifestyle changes which help to lower high cortisol levels
Exercise. This gets bandied around a lot, because it really does make a difference. I don’t have spare time for long workouts or to go to the gym, but I manage to fit in what my husband calls “yoga snacks” throughout the day. They are my teeny tiny chunks of calm. For example, standing in tree pose while brushing my teeth, or sitting in the lotus position when I’m on the floor playing with the kids.
I go through cycles when it comes to more vigorous exercise. Sometimes I love it and sometimes it actually makes me feel worse. Truth is, when your cortisol levels are sky high, hardcore exercise puts additional stress onto the body. Earlier in the year I was doing twenty minute HIIT routines and feeling hideous afterwards, so took a break. Over the last few months I’ve been doing five or six minute standing abs workouts, a few times a week. This gives me a nice little adrenaline dump, without feeling like I’ve over exerted myself.
Sleep. Even in the midst of severe child induced sleep deprivation, there is plenty we can do to help ourselves. A few years ago I stopped taking my phone up to bed, and noticed a dramatic improvement in my sleep quality. I rarely stay up later than 11pm, and have at least an hour, usually two, free of small screens before going upstairs. It doesn’t stop Freddy kicking me in the head half the night, but it makes all the difference to the broken sleep I do get.
Eating well. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of eating good quality nutrient dense food. Since eating my own way to better health, I don’t think there is a better head start we can give our children than a clean diet. Among a multitude of other things, nourishing ourselves appropriately will boost our brains, clear the mental fog and ensure our blood sugars aren’t riding on a rollercoaster all day long.
Get in tune with your cycle, ladies. It won’t actively lower your cortisol levels, but there is much to be said for knowing our bodies inside and out. It’s a tough pill to swallow at first, but I have long just accepted that I’m going to be ruled by my hormones for anything between 24 and 72 hours per menstrual cycle. Yes it sucks, but it’s part and parcel of being a woman. I never make plans around that time, and am super gentle with myself. I have zero expectations, and if anything asides from the bare minimum gets done, I consider it a bonus.
My overall verdict of Zenflore
I’m going to be brutally honest, as I always am. Zenflore hasn’t changed my life – because I am already massively ahead of the gut health game, compared to most. However, I can absolutely see that it would be a game changer for a person who has never taken probiotics before.
I’ve definitely noticed a nice boost, and given the high stress levels inside this house, it goes a long way. In fact I’m so confident that it’s helping me that I’ve started the kids on half a capsule each. Zenflore is perfectly safe for children over the age of three, but do head over to the Zenflore website for all the official info.
To keep up to date with all the news on this wonderful supplement, follow Zenflore across social media:
**Here is my A-Z guide of socially conscious businesses and grass roots UK charities. Hopefully it’ll come in handy for you at some point – click on the bolded text for more details. This is not a sponsored post.
A is for Action on Addiction. This national charity offers high quality, effective residential rehab and community based addiction treatment. Action on Addiction have been providing life-saving treatment for sufferers of addiction for 35 years. They have residential and day treatment programmes for addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling and other behaviours. Action on Addiction brings help, hope and freedom to addiction sufferers, and their families.
B is for Best Beginnings. Founded in 2006, Best Beginnings wasted no time in establishing themselves. Within four weeks, they formed and led a coalition to lobby for the implementation of the Breastfeeding Manifesto. Since then, Best Beginnings have worked tirelessly to reduce inequalities in child health to give every child in the UK the best start. Working closely with parents, leading healthcare professionals and other charities, they have created innovative evidence-based resources which are changing lives every day.
C is for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Did you know that suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45? CALM uses young men’s peers, voices and interests to reach them in times of crisis. CALM believe that there is a cultural barrier preventing men from seeking help, and it’s seen as weakness and a loss of masculinity. They believe if men felt able to ask for and find help when they need it, hundreds of male suicides could be prevented.
D is for The Dock Cafe, Belfast. Run by teams of volunteers, The Dock Cafe serves award-winning locally sourced Sukí teas, freshly ground Dock blend and guest coffees, tasty soups, scones and bakes. They have plenty of space to relax, comfy sofas and free wi-fi. The Dock Cafe is unique, because there is no price list. Instead, they have an honesty box and allow their customers to pay what they choose.
E is for Ethical Superstore. By striving to protect our planet, Ethical Superstore find eco-friendly alternatives to everyday items – including food, cosmetics and cleaners – which do as little harm to the environment as possible. They are helping farmers and small businesses by guaranteeing fair prices at every stage of the supply chain. No-one gets exploited in the production process, and fair prices help to alleviate poverty. They also provide a platform to UK based brands, which means selling products that have been made right here in Britain, utilising local resources and cutting carbon emissions by not importing.
F is for Figtree Clothing. Ethical fashion and natural non-toxic toiletries do not get better than this! Founded by mum of three Rebecca, through desperately trying to lessen her own environmental impact on the world, she shares her journey to zero waste in real time. In her own words: “I wanted to create a trusted brand that others could buy from guilt free. I do the research so you don’t have to.”
G is for Goodness Gracious Gift. Founder Kat aims to put the good back into goodness. Working with brands that are spiritual, vegan, cruelty-free and ethical, she has sourced perfect products to create her Goodness Gracious Gift Boxes. There is a page on the website for each item to make it easy to read ingredients labels, and be safe in the knowledge that the items haven’t been tested on animals.
H is for The Hygiene Bank. Did you know that long before people turn to food banks, they stop using hygiene products? Think about that for one second. “Clean teeth, hair and body shouldn’t be a privilege. These things impact our self-esteem, our self-confidence and our dignity.” Says Lizzy Hall, founder of The Hygiene Bank. Will you support their #itsinthebag campaign this Christmas?
I is for Inspirational Youth. Their vision is to create a community where young people and adults unlock their infinite potential through self awareness, evolution and empathy. Inspirational Youth’s mission is to empower individuals to make meaningful decisions, which create a safe and respectful environment for maximum growth. Through delivering NEET (not in education, employment or training) prevention programmes in schools, Inspirational Youth have a proven track record. They improve behaviour, attitude to learning, attendance and academic attainment. Their proprietary method uses unique game based scenarios which engage young people. These games raise self-awareness and resilience, and lead to a more successful school environment – for both teachers and students.
J is for (The Real) Junk Food Project. Food waste is a big deal to me. Partly through experiencing poverty as a child, partly through seeing extreme poverty while travelling and living in Asia. With hunger being as real as it is, here in the UK, food wastage is absolutely abhorrent. There is no need for it, especially when it can be so easily avoided. The Real Junk Food Project intercepts food which would have gone to landfill, and redistributes it through a network of Pay As You Feel Sharehouses, cafes and school partnerships.
K is for Keep Britain Tidy and Keep Wales Tidy. In 1954 The National Federation of Women’s Institutes passed a resolution to “Keep Britain Tidy”, and this charity have been working hard to do so ever since. Over 374,000 people took part in The Great British Spring Clean 2018, during 13,500 country wide events. Why not get involved in their current #LitterHeroes campaign?
L is for Little Princess Trust. This hair donation service provides wigs free of charge to children and young adults (up to 24) who have lost their own hair due to cancer treatment and other illnesses. If you have good condition hair, and are willing to chop 17-30cm off, you can donate your ponytail to this wonderful cause. Take a look at this video for more details.
M is for Mind. One in four of us experience mental health problems, yet hundreds of thousands of people are still struggling. Mind believe that no-one should have to face their mental health issues alone. They listen and offer support and advice, to empower those struggling with their mental health. Mind campaign tirelessly to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
N is for The National Autistic Society (NAS). Founded in 1962, The NAS is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families. Their goal is to help transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people. They currently help over 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
O is for Oasis Wandsworth. Founded in 1989, Wandsworth Oasis provides support to those living with HIV. They also challenge the stigma surrounding the illness. Their nine south London charity shops generate revenue, along with fundraising events. In the last ten years alone they have given over £350,000 in grants, to HIV-related projects.
P is for Prevent Suicide. This Brighton based charity has a simple powerful goal: for no-one to contemplate suicide alone. Working locally and nationally with communities, organisations and individuals, they support people at risk of suicide. Their training and consultancy helps save lives by enabling conversations which make a difference.
Q is for Queen Alexandra Hospital Home for Veterans.(I’ve cheated here, as they recently changed their name to Care for Veterans.) The facility in Worthing, West Sussex was established in 1919, in order to care for soldiers who were returning from World War I with life-changing disabilities. They provide long term nursing care, rehabilitation, respite and end of life care to ex-Service(wo)men from the RAF, Army, Royal Navy and auxiliary services. They accept residents aged 18 and over and have sixty beds. Anyone who has served in HM Forces at any time or in any capacity, and also immediate family members of someone who has served in HM Forces, is eligible for admission. Their multi-disciplinary approach towards care and rehabilitation includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and neuropsychology, as well as social and recreational activities and a chaplaincy service.
R is for Refuge. Since opening the world’s first safe house for women and children escaping domestic violence in 1971, Refuge has led the campaign against domestic violence. They have grown to become the UK’s largest provider of specialist domestic and gender-based violence services. Refuge support over 6,000 women and children on any given day.
S is for St. Raphael’s Hospice. Charity shops dotted around the London boroughs of Sutton and Merton raise vital funds for St. Raphael’s hospices. Although their philosophy and values are based on the Christian ethos of respect for human life, they welcome, respect and support patients and staff of any or no faith. Aiming to meet the needs – physical, emotional, spiritual and social – of patients, as well as their families and friends. Bereavement support is also offered for those who might find it helpful.
T is for Trussell Trust. Did you know that over 14 million people live in poverty here in the UK? Absolutely shocking numbers, ones our government should be truly ashamed of. The Trussell Trust was Founded in 1997 by Carol and Paddy Henderson, based on Carol’s mother Betty Trussell’s legacy. They now support over 420 foodbanks, working out of more than 1,200 foodbank centres. Trussell Trust provide emergency food and support to hundreds of thousands of people in crisis in the UK.
U is for UK Youth. UK Youth are committed to providing access to high quality services in every community. To ensure that young people are empowered to build bright futures, regardless of their background or circumstances.
V is for Vale Wildlife Hospital. With our wildlife facing more problems than ever before, this Gloucestershire based wildlife hospital are determined to treat all casualties. They help animals who have sustained injuries through an endless list of possibilities including road accidents; being attacked by other animals; fence injuries; mower and strimmer incidents; habitat loss and building work.
W is for Warehouse Cafe, Birmingham. This is a vegetarian restaurant with a difference. Completely committed to sustainability Warehouse Cafe recycles everything they use. Their menus are inspired by seasonal British fruit and veg, using local food as much as possible. Including using allotment produce gifted by friends and supporters, providing direct control and transparency over the supply chain. They are often able use ingredients within an hour of them being harvested.
X is for XLP. The eXceL Project has been changing lives since 1996, after a school stabbing in a London playground. Everyone who works at XLP share a common passion: to serve the community by meeting the social, educational and behavioural needs of young people. Which encourages them to make wise lifestyle choices and realise their potential. XLP has grown from working in a single school to operating in over 75 schools and communities across Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Islington, Camden, Hackney and Lambeth.
Y is for Young Minds.The crisis in the UK of children and young people’s mental health is real and urgent. Even for those brave enough to take the vital first step, help is often far too hard for them to find. Young Minds are leading the way for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever the challenges. Through mental health support, they are fighting for young people to have the resilience to overcome life’s difficulties.
Z is for Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice. Through their hospices in Coventry, Liverpool and Middlesborough, Zoë’s Place provide palliative, respite and end of life care to babies and infants. It’s a free service available for children aged from 0-5, who are suffering from life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. With compassionate care at the heart of their philosophy, everyone is welcome to access their facilities irrespective of religious beliefs, colour, race, culture or gender.
**Disclaimer: this review for personalised kids book “The Tree, The Key & Me” is a collaborative piece between myself and publisher Librio. If you wish to read my full disclosure policy, you can do so by clicking here.**
My kids absolutely adore their personalised books. There is something quite magical about getting to be the hero of the story, especially when your imagination is as big as theirs. I was sent two copies of The Tree, The Key & Me by Librio for Freddy (4) and Clara (6), and it did not disappoint.
The story revolves around a little girl or boy who finds a key, which opens a secret door in a tree. This leads him/her into the forest and lots of lovely woodland creatures. There’s been a disaster, and our hero has to solve the mystery to put things right again. The book is well written and beautifully illustrated.
How is The Tree, The Key & Me different from other personalised kids books?
The main thing which immediately stands out, is the level of personalisation. Most other books only allow you to personalise with gender and name, with Librio you can choose seven characteristics.
As well as name and gender, you can select skin tone; hair and eye colour; hairstyle and (if applicable) you can even choose the colour of their glasses. Obviously you won’t get a mirror image of the child, but it’s a pretty good cartoon version.
I love that the story itself isn’t wishy washy and full of silly gender stereotyping. It’s truly unisex and appeals to both boys and girls. There isn’t a princess or king in sight. It’s an engaging story, and my kids want to read it over and over again.
Librio are a company with inspiring ethics
Being a self-certified eco warrior, I am absolutely in awe of the ethical standards Librio adhere to as a company. All books are printed on high quality 100% FSC certified recycled paper, by award-winning sustainable printers Pureprint Group. As far as I’m concerned, this speaks volumes. There are plenty of publishers on the market printing their books as cheaply as possible. Which, of course, costs the environment dearly.
As well as going to such lengths to print sustainably, Librio plant one tree via Trees for the Future for every book printed. This amazing charity are working hard to end hunger and poverty for farmers by revitalising degraded lands. They plant specific types of fast-growing trees, hardwoods and food crops in a systematic manner. Over a four year period, families see their lives positively changed, forever. What’s not to like about a cause such as this?
If this isn’t enough, for every book sold, Librio also donate £1 to literacy charities in the country where the book is bought. But they very much do not “just give money” (their words). Librio are dedicated to building a company which gives something back to society and help those in need. Again, what’s not to like?
Why I think you should you buy The Tree, The Key & Me
Cards on the table: the personalised kids book market can seem a bit saturated and overwhelming. It’s chock full of popular TV characters and those wishy washy stereotypes I was talking about earlier. Just as the plastic toys from last years’ favourite show get forgotten about, these kind of books get boring, really quickly. If you are going to the trouble of buying a personalised kids book, why not get one that’s truly different?
Librio’s lovely website makes the ordering process super straight forward. You can preview what the entire book will look like, which is a nice touch. The order takes just a few minutes to prepare, and is turned around within one week.
The book is currently available in 18 languages, including UK and US English; French; German; Italian; Spanish; Welsh and many Swiss dialects. They’ve clearly put a lot of thought into inclusivity.
Some of my blogging colleagues have also written reviews. If you aren’t convinced by mine, please have a look at theirs.
Librio have already created over 5,000 copies of The Tree, The Key & Me for children in over forty countries. They are offering a 15% discount when you order two or more books, by using the code YAY15.
I have always been a thoughtful gift giver. Plus I’m thrifty beyond belief, with a brilliant eye for bargains. I can walk out of a charity shop with a carrier bag chock full (of often brand new goodies!) for a tenner. It drives my husband mad, because on the rare occasion he ventures into one, he doesn’t find a thing.
As my kids get older, I want to steer them away from mountains of stuff twice a year. I want them to have memorable experiences, and fun days they can look back on. Also, I don’t want them to have unrealistic expectations. The idea that people automatically give us things, simply because it’s our birthday or Christmas is a concept mine find hard to understand. If someone isn’t in our lives on a day to day basis, they are in danger of being known as “such and such who sends us stuff.” Which is not good for anyone concerned.
Sleep in my house has massively nose dived in the last few months, and my youngest is once again in the marital bed every night. He’s become a terrible bed sharer, and often wakes me up by kicking me in the head, laying diagonally across the pillows or pulling my hair. I also average one super early wake up a week – where I get up for the day anything between 3:30-4:30am, so I can write.
Sleep. Even in the midst of 
**Here is my A-Z guide of socially conscious businesses and grass roots UK charities. Hopefully it’ll come in handy for you at some point – click on the bolded text for more details. This is 
How is The Tree, The Key & Me different from other personalised kids books? 
The book is currently available in 18 languages, including UK and US English; French; German; Italian; Spanish; Welsh and many Swiss dialects. They’ve clearly put a lot of thought into inclusivity.