Random Acts of Kindness Challenge

Your responses to our Random Act of Kindness challenge has blown us away. 

On Tuesday 17th February, an incredible wave of kindness came flooding in from you across the country and the stories really were pure magic. From supporting family members when they needed it, to paying it forward in local cafes, to helping those sleeping rough on our streets, you showed up in the most wonderful ways. Thank you to all of you who shared your incredible stories, here are some of the highlights from the remarkable things BetterPoints users did. 

Jena C from Cardiff:

I was walking past my GP’s office when I saw an elderly person struggling to get into the building with their walker, so I went up to them and first asked if they would like some help, as I know some people prefer to do things on their own and can sometimes feel upset about no longer being able to carry out certain tasks by themselves. Then I held open the door and while going in they said how they would to have to figure this out again in 2 minutes, and so I asked if they’ll like me to stay outside to help them with the doors when they’re ready to leave. When they smiled and said yes I felt really happy that I was able to help someone today.

Jody S from Sheffield:

I’ve raided (not literally!) Primark for some children’s clothes to donate to a Sheffield Women’s Shelter for Eid-al-Fitr, as well as purchasing some Easter Eggs for them. 

I’ve also left some herbal teas and biccies in our work’s kitchen area to jazz up the morning brew time a bit.

Jody running for charity

Gordon B from Leicestershire:

I was at my local coffee shop grabbing a coffee to go and I decided to pay for the next customer behind me as an act of kindness. They really appreciated it so much, that we chatted for a while and they told me they were going through a tough time and this had made their day.

Janet L from West Yorkshire:

This week I have been helping to organise and work on a Volunteer Night shelter for homeless men. Every night since Monday my church turned over use of its Youth Centre to act as a warm and welcoming place for up to 15 homeless men to have a bed, warmth, clean clothes and a good evening meal followed by breakfast the next morning. I have cooked wholesome meals and sent the men on their way with a full English this morning.

Watching these men who are on the very edges of society, who not only have issues with homelessness, but addiction and mental health as well, has been both heartbreaking and heart-warming in almost equal measures. I have sat with them and listened to their stories. Dressed their wounds and been able to hopefully bring moments of rest, solace and comfort to their otherwise broken lives.

I have talked with them and shared humour, and hopefully empathy, that did not seem patronising or make them feel anything less than valued human beings. I made a real contact with these men so much so that upon their leaving this morning to go to the next venue they all hugged me and thanked me asking if I can go with them!

It is true to say that although I and my team helped them, I know that they gave us so much and it has galvanised the members of my church to go forward to continue looking at ways we can pay forward what we have learned and gained from the experience.

The homeless shelter Janet helped set up

Khawla A from Sheffield:

I helped a lady who was fatigued by waiting at the immigration gate at Heathrow Airport. She fainted and nobody helped. I immediately went in and gave her water while waiting for the paramedics to come help. She got better eventually, but what stayed with me was how my children were so impressed by this act of kindness. Both of them (6 and 4) started cuddling me and expressing how proud they were of me.

Minutes later, the paramedics handed us a large bottle of water – way bigger than the one I handed the lady and made us first in line! I told my kids that this was the perfect lesson for you – that if you are kind and do kind things to people, good things will happen to you.

At times we can all feel weighed down by negativity, but we hope these stories can cut right through as bright, bold beacons of hope. They remind us kindness is the gift that keeps on giving. One kind act can catalyse another, because kindness doesn’t need a special occasion, it doesn’t need a campaign or a calendar date. It just needs you.

So, we encourage you all don’t stop here. Pay it forward tomorrow, and the day after. A small act, a kind word, or an unexpected gift, it costs nothing, but can mean everything to someone.

Together, we can make kindness the norm, not the exception. So keep going with your random acts of kindness. 

Thank You to everyone for sharing their stories. And thank you to all of you for being a part of BetterPoints!