You already know what a great thing fairtrade is and how vital it is in helping overcome poverty and suffering, and make a difference to the farmers and their families in the developing world who work hard to ensure you get the products needed.

Charity Oxfam were the first to supply products with the fairtrade mark, making their brands fairtrade pioneers. Since then, the range of fairtrade products have just grown and you'll be able to find a varied selection of produce in your preferred supermarkets.

However, by supporting Oxfam, you're technically supporting two organisations at once - and it doesn't get better than that!

This Fairtrade Fortnight, why not show support by sending a perishable gift that will bring lots of joy and that is sustainable.

For more information visit www.oxfam.org.com/shop.

Hippyshopper and sister site TechDigest have teamed up with the O2 Recycle team this Christmas in order to raise some money for a pair of great causes.

Collecting all our old tech gear from the Shiny Media towers, the O2 Recycling gurus are going to re-sell the items, and ethically dispose of the ones that have no value, pushing all profits made to two separate charities.

The Shiny Media profits will all be going towards the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, who work tirelessly to help our little loved ones battle illness. O2 will be giving their share to Think Big, O2 will be giving its share to Think Big, its own initiative which empowers youngsters up and down the country, giving them funding to run their own community projects.

But we can't do it alone! We need your help to raise as much cash as we possibly can for these two great causes.

According to the O2 Recycle team's research, we throw away 17.5 million perfectly usable gadgets every year, with a potential value of £750 million!

We're asking if you can pool together any unwanted gadgets lying around your house to put towards the fund raising effort. Just pop them into the post, to the address found at this link, and we'll do the rest. We'll make sure that the owner of each profitable item sent gets credited on the site, so that you're hard work is recognised.

O2 offer a full price-match service on your recyclable gadgets too, meaning if you're offered a better price for the item elsewhere, they'll match it to the penny.

The recycling scheme can of course also be used personally if you've got a charity you'd like to support, or just need a little extra cash of your own. But you'd be helping out a great cause by teaming up with the Tech Digest and Shiny Shiny teams!

For more info, check out the video below, and then head over to www.o2recycle.co.uk to get started

Most women dream of owning a designer handbag, but seeing as most of them cost the equivalent of a month's rent it usually stays just a dream. However, what if I said buying said bag also means that you'd be doing something for a charitable cause...

British fashion model Erin O'Connor is leading the celebrity support of Save the Children's Christmas 'Bag to Save a Life' appeal when it launches tomorrow, Friday 25th November 2011. Erin is joined by other well-known names such as Sienna Miller, Tilda Swinton, Florence Welch, Gemma Arterton, Georgia May Jagger, Annie Lennox and the UK's Prime Minister's wife and Save the Children Ambassador, Samantha Cameron to raise funds for the charity's lifesaving work in the poorest countries.

If you fancy snapping up a bag by the likes of Christian Louboutin, Mulberry, Jimmy Choo, Miu Miu, Prada and many more - donated or designed by the lovely celeb ladies previously mentioned - make sure you join in on the online auction from tomorrow on www.savethechildren.org.uk/bagtosave.

Samantha Cameron has donated her Jimmy Choo bag, Sienna Miller a Miu Miu, Tilda Swinton has donated a bag from Chanel AND a bag from Victor & Rolf, while Gemma Arterton has donated a leather patent Prada bag.

Save the Children ambassador Samantha Cameron said: "I am delighted to donate one of my handbags to Save the Children's Bag to Save a Life auction. It a great cause and the proceeds will help provide more health workers around the world who in turn will stop the needless deaths of children. Please get involved and do your bit to help save a child's life."

Tilda Swinton said: "Bid high! Bid so much higher than you think you will or can! Think of a dicey number and double it. And then double that. No fancy bag can ever carry what your generosity will mean to the children it will help to live. Make this beautiful object truly valuable by investing real money in real life - and carry the evidence with pride. Don't count the cost. Think of it as paying something back for all there is to be grateful for in your days."

If you want to take part in the auction, the starting price will be at around a quarter of the bags' recommended retail price. You can also donate any unwanted bags you might have laying around at any of the Save the Children stores around the UK to be included into the auction.

The online auction will be live from Friday 25th November to Sunday 4th December 2011.

We love charity shops at Hippyshopper. Not only are they great for updating your wardrobe in an inexpensive and sustainable way (recycling unwanted clothes and items all around), uncovering some great vintage finds, and taking your unwanted clothes off your hands, they are also come with the added bonus of helping raise funds for different causes.

It was with interest that we watched the news piece on BBC Breakfast this morning on whether there are too many charity shops on Britain's high streets. This one particular city had 6 on its main shopping street. The current debate around charity shops on the high street began after retail queen Mary Portas suggested that the number of charity shops on the high street should be limited by tax laws earlier this month. The Charity Retail Association has slammed this suggestion and is writing to the Prime Minister to object to Portas' idea as it is concerned what it would do to charity shops should they been reflected negatively in the High Street Review. The review, which is led by Portas, was launched in May and is due to report back to the Prime Minister this autumn.

Too many charity shops? We think not!

Better that they are there offering an eco-minded, sustainable shopping experience than the properties that would otherwise be empty - or worse being occupied by shops selling cheaply made and short-lived crap for £1 to feed the nation's throwaway society.

Fair enough, the charity shops might pay less in rent but considering that they enable hobby eco-warriors to do their bit for charity and raise funds for much needed causes I don't see the issue.

Alternatively, the retail associations in charge of the British high streets should enable independent businesses to prosper by offering lower rates so that locally produced goods could be showcased in a store environment.

What do you think? Are there too many charity shops around and what do you suggest could be done to breathe new life into our high streets? Leave a comment below.

Don't you dare to dust away those cobwebs - Halloween is almost here! At the end of the month it's time for trick-or-treating, scary costumes and sweets, lots and lots of sweets. A big business in America, this 'holiday' is catching on over here in England too but unfortunately can be one of the most wasteful times of the year. Just thinking about all those individually wrapped sweeties that get given out and the plastic decorations bought at the local pound shop only to be thrown out afterwards makes us feel bad. That said, we're not saying you shouldn't enjoy the festivities, so here are some tricks to have a greener Halloween.

Remembrance Sunday is a day set aside to remember the service men and women who have given their lives in pursuit for peace and freedom. This year Remembrance Sunday - the day when poppies can be seen everywhere - falls on 13 November.

To support and raise funds for the Royal British Legion in the run up to the day FirstCape wines, Sainsbury's and Red Lion Foods have teamed up to create a new wine range named Battlefield Wines. For every bottle, 100% of post-tax profits will go to the UK forces charities and British servicemen and women.

Available exclusively from Sainbury's stores across the country, Battlefield Wines come in Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, priced at £9.99 per bottle.

It's almost the end of Organic Month, but we can't leave it behind without looking at what food and drink products are available. Beauty as they say come from within, so it is important that what you eat and drink is as natural as possible. Choosing organic produce is a great way of ensuring that you're treating your body - and mind - nicely from within as well helping contribute to the protection of wildlife and the environment.

Opting for organic means there is no hidden nasties in the product, such as artificial colourings or sweeteners, so what you see on the box is what you get. Visit the Soil Association for more info on living more organically.

Pukka Herbs Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (£7.95)

Drinking coconut water to re-hydrate and allegedly control weight has been a favourite among celebrities for a while now, so I was curious about the benefits of coconut oil which is Miranda Kerr's secret to looking good. Kerr credits her slim figure to daily doses of coconut oil in her cooking, on her salad or in her cups of green tea.

This must surely mean that organic coconut oil is the ultimate beauty secret? Coconut is a highly nutritious food, rich in vitamins (Vitamin C, Riboflavin and Thiamine) and minerals (calcium, iron and phosphorus), and contains high levels of a particular type of fatty acid (lauric) that is known to help increase metabolism.

After you've gotten used to all your food having a slight taste of coconut, cooking with coconut oil is a delight. Especially as a little goes a long way, so you don't feel like your blood veins will clog with unhealthy fat. Have yet to try it on toast, but am sure it's delicious!

Available from Pukka Herbs.

Rachel's Organic Yoghurt

Whether it is a sweet treat you're after or something to have on your cereal in the morning, organic yoghurt is a great addition to your daily diet - and the best at that is Rachel's Organic. Britain's first organic dairy and pioneer of branded organic dairy produce, Rachel's offer a wide range of scrumptious yoghurts. These thick and creamy yoghurts are definitely a favourite of mine!

Rachel's seasonal Special Edition Winter Fruits multipack comes in two delicious flavours; Apple and Cinnamon and Apple and Rhubarb which are perfect for an autumn treat. They're also bringing out a new Limited Edition Pineapple, Coconut & Banana flavour - certain to bring a feel of the Caribbean to the dark winter days. Yum!

Rachel's Winter Fruits multipack is available in Waitrose for £1.69, while the Pineapple, Coconut & Banana Limited Edition costs £1.59 and is available in leading supermarkets nationwide.

Green & Black's Organics Chocolate

What better treat this autumn that some organic chocolate from Green & Black's? New of the year is that the full range of block bars and beverage products will carry a fair trade certification, with the brand having increased its financial commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the cocoa-growing communities Green & Black's rely on to source cocoa for its delicious products.

The first in organic and fair trade chocolate, Green & Black's is launching a new selection box with 12 minature signature flavour bars just in time for Christmas as well as going pink for Breakthrough Breast Cancer in October with a mouth-watering hot pink Raisin & Hazelnut bar.

The collection box is priced at £5.49 and the pink bar costs £2.29. Available in leading supermarkets nationwide or shop online.

What's This...? Anti-oxidant Drink (£2.75/330ml)

Many will have heard of the skincare properties of aloe vera, but what about its wild cousin aloe ferox? With twice the potency of aloe vera, I was super excited to hear about a new anti-oxidant drink called What's This...? that is made with natural aloe ferox - increasingly regarded as a new superfood.

Aloe ferox is linked to many benefits, including anti-aging, reducing the risk of heart disease, cleansing the digestive system and detoxifying the body as well as soothing, healing and moisturising the skin.

The 100% natural super-ingredient drink which main ingredient is aloe ferox must be a must-have for all health conscious out there. I tried the Baobab and aloe ferox which tasted like a thick fruit juice; it was delicious. Baobab contains important vitamins, fibre and anti-oxidants and THREE times the level of calcium found in milk!

What's This...? comes in four varieties: Baobab & aloe ferox, Green rooibos & aloe ferox, Pomegranate, hibiscus & aloe ferox and Mango & aloe ferox, and is widely available in UK health food stores.

Pukka Herbs Organic Tea (from £2.09)

Working in an office can often cause high intake levels of caffeine through a continuous supply of tea and coffee throughout the week - or is that just my office? Instead of experiencing caffeine headaches and sleepless nights, why not swap it for organic herbal teas? Specially blended by master herbalist Sebastian Pole, each of the blends is full of flavour and rich in therapeutic benefits - all designed to match your every mood and moment.

For Organic Month I tested the Three Fennel and Detox; the former one winning the coveted 'three gold stars award' and the 2011 Gold Taste Awards as well as Best Organic Food Product at this year's Natural & Organic Products show.

The Three Fennel is a blend of organic sweet fennel, wild fennel and fennel leaf tea which is specially blended to soothe digestion and reduce bloating - perfect for busy people who eat on the go and for after a heavy meal.

Both were easy on the palate and I fully enjoyed sipping them while at work and in the evenings, swapping it for my much loved coffee. Pukka Herb teas are sold in selected stores nationwide or through its website.

The say a girl can never have too many shoes... or reusable bags!

Founder and chief creative officer of Jimmy Choo Tamara Mellon OBE has designed an exclusive reusable bag to support The Body Shop and ECPAT's global Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People (SST) campaign.

The bag will be available in a limited edition from 6th October at The Body Shop nationwide.

The STOP bag is decorated with personalised handprints from Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman, Ab Fab actress, TV personality and animal rights campaigner Joanna Lumley (who is Absolutely lovely by the way!), formerly 'naked' chef Jamie Oliver, musician and producer extraordinaire Mark Ronson, Oscar winner and UN Goodwill Ambassador Mira Sorvino as well as CNN Piers Morgan who have all pledged their support for the campaign.

Tamara Mellon OBE says: "I am thrilled to have worked with The Body Shop to design The STOP bag and raise awareness of the SST campaign. I feel very strongly about prohibiting sex trafficking and knowing that the profits will help to end this modern day slavery and safeguard children makes the project even more worthwhile."

Retailing at £4.00, profits from the sale of The STOP bag will be used to combat and raise awareness of sex trafficking of children and young people.

The bag is made from raw 100% community fair trade cotton and feature a fuschia trim and shoulder strap which is certain to brighten up those shopping trips in the winter months!

Credit: Daniel Beltrá / Greenpeace

There's a multitude of ever-growing charities and organisations, large and little alike, dedicated to promoting and maintaining the breath of our environment. But you might be the kind of person who prefers to focus your energy on just one charity, or even a select few, which means it can be a struggle finding one that feels right for you and that most deserves your support. So here you have it - a pick of some of the coolest, greenest guys out there and how you can get involved with their work.

Each is grappling with environmental and ethical issues but varied heartfelt passions set them apart - see that's the beauty of these niche eco-groups. Whatever our forte, we can always find a way to help rejuvenate our planet...

Who? GREENPEACE - for the greenery, the waters and our homes

At a Glance - One of the biggest global environmental organisations out there (alongside RSPB, WWF and Friends of the Earth). Greenpeace works to preserve our beautiful oceans, forests and agriculture. They stress that climate change is in no way inevitable - and rightly so. Overall, their goal is 'a green and peaceful world' with an earth that is allowed to nurture life and flourish healthily.

How you can get involved! - Greenpeace has plenty for you to do. You can start by signing up for their newsletter so that you don't miss out on their latest campaigns. Presently, they're concerned with putting paid to deep water drilling for the love of our marshland and defenceless wildlife. You can check out their list of online campaigns and simply fill in your details, thus putting a name to the letter of protest. If you want something a bit more proactive, you can fundraise, attend events near you and volunteer or work for Greenpeace, whether it's at the office or on a ship in Amsterdam!

www.greenpeace.org.uk

Who? COMMON GROUND - for our cherished hideouts, our neighbours and culture

At a Glance - Common Ground prides itself on linking our environment with culture and the arts. Do you have a sentimental bond with the places you visit in your life? Well this charity sees significance in nurturing and celebrating that bond in a way that benefits the earth. Common Ground has coined the term "local distinctiveness" for that sense of being one with the land you walk and what's more, snapped up the Best Environmental Charity 2010 Award from The Independent for it.

How you can get involved! - You can organise events for your locality. Some traditional, inspiring annual events are celebrated nationally, such as Apple Day on October 21st which involves planting new orchards and the custom of 'tree dressing'. Check their event calendar online for a list of festivals and gatherings. To help fund Common Ground, you can even buy books revealing the best of England's obscure terrain or t-shirts with Wordsworth's poetry strewn across them.

www.commonground.org.uk

Who? CHRISTIAN ECOLOGY LINK - for Christianity and spirituality

At a Glance - CEL seeks to unite the eco-friendly in light of Christianity. The integration of spirituality and sustainable living can only do a world of good.

How you can get involved! - If you are devout, you can encourage your fellow church-goers to go greener. You can download the monthly prayer guides offering words of inspiration pertaining to our earth. The CEL diary is usually brimming with a number of events all over the UK. In fact, it is well worth keeping an eye on the Events section of CEL's site as it includes the events hosted by charities of a similar nature.

www.christian-ecology.org.uk

Who? BOTTLETOP - for music, art and above all fashion

At a Glance - If you are a youthful soul with a passion for the creative arts, this might just be your cup of tea. With its interests lying in fashion, music and art, Bottletop aims to eradicate the perils concerning teenage health through 'environmentally friendly and ethically sourced products'. Bottletop makes dazzling products from recycled ring pulls and has even formed its own supergroup, The Bottletop Band, involving Babyshambles and Tim Burgess of The Charlatans amongst others. No wonder this charity has gained express praise, from Bill Clinton no less, for its innovativeness.

How you can get involved! - It's all on the Get Involved section of the website. They are always on the lookout for deft volunteers to help get the Bottletop message across. You might want to organise a challenge or event to raise funds, and schools interested in partnering with Bottletop can benefit from fun, organised events. Or if you have spotted a wonderful, ethical piece befitting of their fashion range, why not point it out to them?

www.bottletop.org

Who? EARTHWATCH - for every nation and conservation. The Earth, literally

At a Glance - These guys are actually awesome. Not only do they want your support in promoting a greener earth, but they look to engage you in their initiatives through enlightenment of the issues being tackled. Earthwatch is highly popular - it has worked with over 80 companies to better their performance environmentally and is dedicated to training others all over the globe, namely in developing countries. As a result, Earthwatch has been able to accomplish an array of things like improve access to water supply in southern Kenya, collate a rich supply of significant data on various species, and determine the best for endangered species and habitats.

How you can get involved! - Besides the usual fundraising, donating or hosting an event in Earthwatch's name, you could consider going on a research expedition. Unleash the archaeologist or conservationist in you by scooting off to Russia or South Africa for an unforgettable hands-on, experience. There are of course fees but they are not painfully extortionate. Quite often, special offers are available and you can get others to sponsor you. Also, you might do well to check out the job and internship listings if you think you have what it takes to join the Earthwatch team.

www.earthwatch.org/europe

Of course, do remember this list is miles from exhaustive. These make just a small percentage of the many eco-friendly charities so feel free to do your own homework. Looking closer to home is always a thought. Your local borough or university is sure to have something eco-oriented that you can contribute your time to!

It may not be the cleanest river in the world to swim, but it's all for a good cause - to raise money for Sports Relief, a charity providing education, food, shelter and healthcare to some of the poorest people in the world.

This morning Little Britain's David Walliams set off on the 140 mile journey over eight days from Gloucestershire to London. Of course, Walliams is no stranger to swimming for a good cause, having swum The English Channel in 2006, but this is his biggest challenge yet. Talking about what will motivate him to carry on during the swim Walliams said he would think about how the money he raised would help some of the poorest people in the world.

"I think about happy things, I think about what I'm going to eat when I get out. I think about songs and I have been on some trips with Comic Relief and Sport Relief and I think about the people the money raised will help.

"I met this boy in Kenya on the street. His name is Philip and he's 12 years old and he's been homeless for four years. His mum and dad are dead and he lives in desperate circumstances. Sport Relief funds a centre that gives him education, food, shelter and healthcare.

"I think about him because he is such a sweet boy, with so much hope. I said 'what do you want to be when you're older?' and he said he wanted to be a pilot. He's living in the most desperate circumstances yet he still has great aspirations. I think about him and not wanting to let him down."

He described himself as a "masochist" for wanting to do another swimming challenge, adding: "I wanted to do something else and I'd just turned 40 and I thought I haven't got much time left because my body is falling apart."

The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames will be filmed for a documentary to be broadcast in the build-up to the Sport Relief weekend in March next year. Walliams is asking for people to sponsor him at www.sportrelief.com/walliams.

You can see pictures of Walliams as he sets off on his challenge below. ALL IMAGES: PRESS ASSOCIATION

Charity World Vision's humanitarian aid history spans across 60 years and it is committed to providing a better quality of life for children living in poor communities around the world, mainly in the Philippines, Mexico, Armenia, Cambodia, Rwanda and Kenya.

Since 1993, World Vision has provided microloans to families to ensure them a brighter future. Too keep up the good work and keep empowering people less fortunate to overcome the cycle of poverty, World Vision is dependent on donations from people like you.

The World Vision team spends time getting to know the local communities and their people and their ideas, in order to make sure the money goes to where it is most needed.

Getting involved is easy.

1. Read people's stories and see their ideas, then choose which project you would like to be a part of.

2. Set up a donation through World Vision (this can be paid over 12 months if preferred) and let them help the person you have chosen.

3. World Vision will then send you regular updates so that you can see the difference your donation has made, how the business is prospering, the changes it is bringing to people's lives and their community!

4. Once your initial loan has been repaid, World Vision will find another resourceful person to benefit from your generosity, making sure your gift keeps on giving for years.

To find out more or to make a donation please www.worldvision.org.uk.

Actress Joanna Lumley posed for photographer John Swannell wearing the solid gold, diamond-encrusted Shere Khan Necklace, which is hoped to raise at least £300,000 for the Born Free Foundation.

Designed by award-winning jeweller Catherine Best to depict the tiger in Rudyard Kipling's 'Jungle Book', the jewellery holds 182 precious stones set in nearly a kilo of 18ct gold and has been independently valued at more than £500,000.

Joanna, who revealed her love for cats, big and small, in a TV show last year, described the necklace as "blingtastic" and compared it to pieces worn by members of the royal family.

She said: "I feel very much that it's almost a royal piece. The necklace is so special it can be worn with anything, though I feel a strapless evening gown and long evening gloves would show it to perfection. The moment you put the necklace on, it comes alive!

"It feels great, like a badge of office, but it's incredibly comfortable and easy to wear. It reminds me of the fabulous pieces in the Duchess of Windsor's collection - panthers and leopards. I adore extreme looks and this is blingtastic!"

The Sher Khan Necklace will be auctioned worldwide from yesterday May 31 until June 17, when a gala evening will be held at the Savoy Hotel in London to mark the 80th birthday of actress Virginia McKenna, who founded the Born Free Foundation.

Oxfam today launches its first ever national emergency appeal for stock donations after it faces a stock crisis following a fire at its recycling facility. This is the biggest loss of donations in its 69-year history.

As a result, Oxfam is calling on the British public to help it overcome the unprecedented loss by donating any unwanted clothing and accessories to their local Oxfam shop or donation bank across the UK.

The fire wiped out the clothing stock held for Oxfam's popular festivals shop, which last year raised £250,000 and is scheduled to be at seven of this year's biggest festivals, including Glastonbury, Leeds and Bestival.

The appeal is being backed by big names from the fashion and retail industries including Whistles chief Jane Shepherdson and Red or Dead founder Wayne Hemingway.

Oxfam works in more than 70 countries worldwide, delivering lifesaving and life-changing work in everything from humanitarian emergencies to long-term work battling the effects of climate change. Oxfam's shop network is a vital part of this, generating around £23 million profit every year to fight poverty.

On any given day in London you get hundreds of flyers pushed up in your face as you navigate to and from work, and you quickly learn how to ignore the street promoters. However yesterday as I left the tube station en route to my office I was intrigued by the people wearing t-shirts with gorillas on them, so I picked up one of their yellow flyers. It asked me: "Could you run 7k dressed as a gorilla?"

I smiled and thought to myself..."NO." But that is just me (because I don't run), and because it's in aid for The Gorilla Organization, a registered charity, I felt I had to share it with you in case you would be tempted to participate.

On Saturday 24th September 2011 - so there is a lot of time to get training still - "the most fun event for conservation going on anywhere in the world" according to Bill Oddie takes place in London. This is your chance to dress up as a gorilla and run 7k among 100s of other runners on the streets of London. By doing the Great Gorilla Run you'll be playing a crucial role in helping save the remaining 720 mountain gorillas left in the wild. So not just a chance to go ape then!

If you're interested and would like to register simply head on over to www.greatgorillarun.org or call 0207 916 4974.

And don't you worry the organisers will send you a free gorilla suit when you register.

Former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and British actress Joanna Lumley are asking people who are buying Easter presents to help save rabbits by buying beauty and personal care gifts that have not been tested on animals.

These products can easily be identified by the Leaping Bunny Logo that symbolises the product has been approved by the BUAV's Humane Cosmetics Standard, which guarantees a company doesn't test their cosmetics and toiletries on animals.

Kimberley, who is also the founder of a new cruelty-free cosmetics brand BM Beauty, said: "Please be kind to bunnies this Easter - don't buy animal tested cosmetics and toiletries when choosing gifts for your loved ones. Look out for the BUAV's Leaping Bunny logo."

Joanna added: "I'm helping rabbits this Easter by only buying cruelty-free cosmetics. Look out for the BUAV's Leaping Bunny logo."

Despite bans in the UK and EU that prevent animals from being used to test cosmetics and toiletries, products that have been cruelly tested on animals in other parts of the world are still allowed to be sold and the BUAV is campaigning for a ban that will prevent this from happening.

Kimberley and Joanna are not the only stars lending their support to BUAV to end cruel animal testing. In March, Sir Paul McCartney joined the animal rights charity in a European campaign.

You can sign the No Cruel Cosmetics petition at www.nocruelcosmetics.org.