The Benefits of Volunteering

Lending a helping hand shows others that they are not forgotten. There are hundreds of thousands of volunteer opportunities available worldwide. From working at an animal shelter to volunteering at a children’s center, any person can make a difference for the better. Although volunteering can be deemed a selfless act of generosity and consideration, volunteering also provides one with several physical, emotional and mental benefits. The following are some of the common benefits of volunteering:

Facilitates a Sense of Community

Volunteering builds a sense of community as many people come together for a greater good. By sharing a big overall goal, deep connections and camaraderie is built between volunteers and even those being helped. This sense of community unites the minds and hearts of many people.

Dispels Loneliness

The act of volunteering alleviates feelings of loneliness. It’s one thing to get out of the house. However, volunteering makes people a part of something bigger. One gets to surround themselves with many who are in need of help. If a person is more inclined to work with animals, then volunteering at an animal shelter might prove to be very therapeutic.

Improves Self-Esteem

One’s self-esteem and self-worth will get an immediate boost as they volunteer. Volunteering not only gives a person a sense of purpose, but it also shows them that their effort and presence is valued. They get to see the difference they make through contributing to a cause. This establishes a newfound confidence within a person which one can then exercise within the other facets of their life.

Builds Interpersonal Relationships

With volunteering, people learn and develop social skills. A person can improve their communication and patience by volunteering, allowing them to have more effective conversations with others. It also facilitates compassion and empath.

Brings Empathy & Compassion

Sometimes people aren’t aware of other peoples’ struggles until they get a closer look. Volunteering gives individuals the opportunity to see life from other peoples’ perspectives which can minimize judgmental and harsh perceptions. Empathy is not about feeling sorry for another person. However, it is about understanding others and what others go through. By having greater empathy, one can find greater resolve and peace of mind.

March 24, 2020 0

6 Top British Foods You Must Try

Cuisine in the UK has emerged as genuinely upscale in the past two decades. It wasn’t too long ago that the culinary scene in Great Britain was given less than stellar reviews. Classic British dishes are undergoing a makeover by some incredible emerging chefs and are worth trying. Here are 6 British foods that you must try.

SCOTCH EGGS

The Scotch egg is a popular breakfast food that is unique to the UK. This is a tasty dish that you can take on the road with you. It is believed that the Scotch egg originated in 1738 at the department store Fortnum & Mason.

A Scotch egg is a boiled egg that is encased in sausage meat. This neat little package is dipped in a coating of bread crumbs and deep-fried until the exterior is crunchy. If having this at home or in a restaurant, the eggs will be soft-boiled, so the yolk oozes when you slice into it. If taking the Scotch egg on the road, a hard-boiled egg works best.

KEDGEREE

British style kedgeree has its roots in Indian cuisine. Asian cultures make a similar dish with rice and lentils called khichdi. The British reworked the recipe to include animal protein. This is a traditional English breakfast dish of leftover rice that is cooked with smoked fish, such as gravlax or smoked haddock, and curry spices. It is served with boiled eggs. This is a filling breakfast that will keep you sated for hours.

FISH AND CHIPS

Fish and Chips are a staple in the British diet. It is akin to burger and fries in the USA. When prepared correctly, this is a dish that you will want over and over again. The fish needs to be super fresh, and the batter has to be crunchy.

Fish and chip shops, and even upscale restaurants, are vying for the best accolades for their versions of this meal. Cod, and some other flaky white fishes, are dipped in a flour and beer batter and fried in scalding oil. This is seasoned with salt and pepper and served with crispy fried potatoes and malt vinegar or tartar sauce. The best are rolled in paper to absorb some of the frying oil. This is a fantastic and quick lunch.

CORNISH PASTY

Every countryside pub seems to be serving Cornish pasties, and it’s the only sustenance offered to accompany your pint. These are semi-circular shaped pastries filled with cubed or minced meat, potatoes, onion, and rutabaga. They are baked until steaming in the centre and golden brown on the exterior. You can eat a pasty with your hands and some napkins. It would be best if you had an ale or stout with a Cornish pasty. This is a great afternoon snack after walking the trails in the local hills.

BEEF WELLINGTON

There is nothing more British than a perfectly cooked beef Wellington. The dish is a beef tenderloin portion coated with a creamy layer of mushroom duxelles and liver pâté. This is then wrapped in puff pastry and baked until the pastry is flaky and the beef is medium-rare and moist.

The dish is often served for dinner with roasted root vegetables and a light beef jus or gravy. Beef Wellington is an elegant dining staple in Great Britain.

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

There might not be a more classic British dessert than a steaming sticky toffee pudding. This comforting dish is more of a cupcake than a pudding. The date infused sponge cake is moist and sweet. It is served with a lovely sticky toffee sauce that the cake is soaked in and often includes a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This dish was first introduced on the menu of the Sharrow Bay Country House in the 1970s.

March 24, 2020 0

4 Places for Afternoon Tea in London, England

In London, afternoon tea has become a national tradition. This trend started in 1840 when the Duchess of Bedford shared that she enjoyed tea and snacks a few hours before dinner. And thus, afternoon tea began! With flutes of champagne, pastries and finger sandwiches have updated this tradition. From traditional spreads for holidays to modern interpretations, the following are some of the best places to sit down for a spot of tea!

The Landmark London

For an afternoon tea that is classic, chic, and sans tourist gimmicks, you can’t go wrong with The Landmark London. The regal yet traditional setup of the High Palms High Tea ensures a triumphant experience of yummy sandwiches and delicious pastries. Plus, the sounds of piano music fluttering through the glass-roofed Victorian atrium will have you feeling like you’re part of the royal family.

Sketch

A haven for hipsters, influencers, socialites, celebrities, and food bloggers alike, Sketch pulls in a bulk of its clientele with its posh, Instagram-friendly interior; it pulls in repeat customers for its attention to quirky details and lovingly prepared fare. Created by restaurateur Mourad Mazouz and award-winning chef Pierre Gagnaire, this millennial-pink paradise of tulip-shaped chairs and modern art slings savoury staples like a foie-gras tartlet and dainty sandwiches of smoked salmon, cucumber, and coronation chicken. When it comes time to indulge your sugary senses, snag salted-caramel éclairs and shot glasses of white-peach and verbena cheesecake from the trolley, plus more classic dividends like scones and Victoria sponge. As for what you’ll be sipping, sample as many of the 20+ types of loose-leaf teas (carted around in giant test tubes for an added dose of eccentricity, of course) as you’d like— all while the string quartet in the corner plays elegant renditions of your favourite Beatles songs.

By Chloe

Calling all vegans? Feeling a little left out when that three-tiered buffet of baked goods rolls around? By Chloe has got your back with a high tea that’s entirely plant-based. Vegan versions of traditional offerings like smoked salmon, (thoughtfully crafted from marinated tomatoes, seaweed, and chipotle), egg salad (creamy tofu), and cucumber + mozzarella (cashew cheese) sammies could convince any non-plant convert. Served up in a loud, colourful environment, By Chloe offers a glimpse into the future of afternoon tea.

The Coral Room

Mixologists and interior design aficionados will find themselves swooning the moment they enter The Coral Room. Get comfy in your blue-velvet chair and ready yourself to toss back tea-infused cocktails beneath glittering chandeliers and a myriad of colourful, gold-framed illustrations. Warm vanilla scones and fresh raspberry jam pair perfectly with black tea and the restaurant’s signature sparkling wine. Plus, you can even enjoy unlimited refills on drinks like iced coffee, matcha lattes, and yes— tea.

February 28, 2020 0

How Can NonProfits Use Social Media

Social media remains an integral part of internet culture. People can interact with it, they can update each other, and they can send information to others. Many groups will use social media for advertising themselves. Nonprofits can do the same, so if you run a nonprofit organization, make sure to apply these tips to use social media effectively.

Promote Your Channels

You can use social media to promote your different channels easily. Inform people about your website or your email newsletter. Make sure that they know about different places that they can get information about your nonprofit organization. Remember, they followed you on social media to receive news, so give them more options.

Always seek ways to remind people about your other channels and give them reasons to join.

Hold Contests

People love it when they have the opportunity to win a prize. You can gain more followers by hosting creative contests. Have your followers interact with the contest by commenting, sharing, or liking the post. This will also help you gain new followers since people will start following you to enter the contest.

Contests allow you to increase your online presence through exciting incentives.

Announce News

Social media allows you to make announcements to people that care about your organization. Make sure to take advantage of this by sharing news with others. Encouraging others to read it and share it with friends. This will allow you to inform followers about upcoming events and other important news involving your organization.

Social Media Manager

You should hire a social media manager to run your accounts. This may seem strange to some people, but social media takes more effort than expected. If you want to have a proper account, make sure you hire a specialist to take care of it. This will allow you to utilize your social media accounts fully.

Social media allows a nonprofit organization to share information, promote itself, and interact with followers. As you continue to use and improve your social media account, you can continue to grow your organization and advertise it. Doing so will lead you to more success and a better-established business.

February 28, 2020 0

A Beginner’s Guide to Charitable Giving

Charitable giving is admirable, but if you’re new to philanthropy, it can be difficult to know where to begin. There are many worthy causes out there, but how do you determine which one is right for you? Here are some tips to get you started:

Define Your Objectives

The first step to becoming a philanthropist is to determine your goals for your donations. Your giving will mean much more to you if you give to a cause that aligns with your personal values. What type of cause do you want to support? Think about what is important to you and imagine what positive change you would like to see in that area. After you determine your goals for giving, commit those goals to paper.

Create a Strategy

The next step to charitable giving is to create a strategy. You need to know how you will give.

You may choose to give money, or you may choose to give your time. Many organisations need volunteers as much (or more) than they need monetary donations. Also, consider if you would like to give on your own or include your family in the process.

This is also a good time to decide if you would like to give locally or internationally. No matter where you live, you can find a local need. However, you may choose to give internationally, such as to developing countries.

Consider Taxes

You work hard for your money, so when you decide to give some away, you probably don’t want to see it go to taxes. In 1990, the UK implemented Gift Aid, which is a way for charities to claim the basic tax rate that you have already paid on a donation. This allows the organisation, rather than the government, to use more of your money. To utilize Gift Aid, you must include a declaration along with your donation.

You may choose to donate directly from your paycheque, which is called payroll giving. This option is tax-efficient and convenient. Payroll giving comes out of your pay before income tax, so you won’t be paying taxes on these contributions.

Choose Your Charity

Once you have clarified your goals, created a strategy, and considered how to give in a tax-efficient way, you are ready to choose your charity. With over 160,000 charities in the UK, this step can seem overwhelming.

There are various online resources available to help you with your search. Websites like The Charity Commission, Guide Star UK, and Charities Direct allow you to do an advanced search to find organisations that match your desires. Once you’ve narrowed your choices down, you can contact the organisations and ask them results-focused questions. Choose the charity that seems like it will make the most difference in an area that is significant to you.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you are on your way to becoming a philanthropist! Be sure to regularly assess your charitable giving and determine if you need to make changes. If not, continue doing what you’ve been doing. And be proud of yourself— you’re doing your part to make the world a better place.

Originally published: https://bit.ly/2QOtUZF

January 13, 2020 0

The 5 Most Iconic British Sports Cars

British sports cars are some of the most iconic cars in the world. Known for their luxury and beauty, these automobiles are what dreams are made of. Here is a list of five of the most iconic British sports cars ever:

Jaguar E-type

The Jaguar E-type was introduced in 1961 and was manufactured until 1975. Enzo Ferrari called the Jaguar E-type “the most beautiful car ever made”. Glamourous and exotic as they were, these cars were made with 3.8-litre inline six-cylinder engines that could also perform — with maximum speeds of 241 km/h.

The Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 is sometimes called “the most famous car in the world.” It was featured as James Bond’s car in the 1964 film Goldfinger. This car was the epitome of luxury for its time period. It had electric windows, leather trim, and wool pile carpet. It even included a fire extinguisher for emergencies. Aston Martin released a high-performance version of the DB5 in 1965 that could go from 0-60 mph in 6 seconds.

Morgan 4/4

The Morgan 4/4 was first produced in 1936 and is still produced today, making it the longest running production car in the world. Like many iconic British sports cars, the Morgan 4/4 is beloved for its appearance rather than its performance. In fact, the Morgan 4/4 could only reach about 75 mph, but it is still one of the most iconic British sports cars ever made.

Jaguar XK-120

The Jaguar XK-120 began as nothing but a concept car in 1948 but received such a strong reaction from the public that Jaguar decided to put them into production. The first ones were made with aluminium bodies but demand was higher than expected, so later models were made with pressed steel. Their motors are sometimes described as “jewel-like.”

Austin-Healey Sprite

The Sprite, also known as the Frogeye, was first produced in 1958. The Frogeye name came from the design of the headlights, which sit on the bonnet of the car and were originally supposed to retract. However, the cost of manufacturing the retracting headlights was too high, so the idea never came to fruition. Interestingly, the car also had no door handles on the outside but instead required one to reach inside the vehicle to open the doors.

There you have it—five of the most iconic British Sports Cars of all time.

Originally published: https://bit.ly/3a55rH3

January 13, 2020 0

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April 12, 2019 0