Happy New Year! Another year ends and we continue to indulge, perhaps not on mince pies, turkey or Christmas pudding but on an abundance of the new year resolution. So, when did New Year resolution begin? It is thought that the ancient Babylonians started the trend by making a promise in order to earn the favour of the gods and start the new year off on the right foot.

We are guilty of producing an impressive list of resolutions, but how many of us actually commit to fulfilling them once the first week of January is over. Rather than pausing upon unrealistic goals, we should be focusing on what contribution we can make to our community and our fellow citizens. I asked a man, age 35, “What is your New Year resolution?” and he simply replied, “To give up smoking.” So rather than saying, that you are “going to give up smoking,” why don’t you make the decision to undertake voluntary work or find a way of giving back to your community.

Whilst, 15.3 million people in the UK volunteer once a month, it is rarely consistent; many charities need support 24/7 and 365 days per year. Making regular contributions is easy it could be a financial donation to charities like CRISIS, Cancer Research UK, British Red Cross, MIND, or other amazing charities. Otherwise, it could be whenever you go past and you see someone on the streets sitting down in cold, offer them £4 or more but not less. However, if you are the type of person that those are pretending, I don't want that to come in your head when you see someone on there streets begging for money or jousting down in the cold just offer them a cup of coffee or a snack or a little breakfast, lunch or even dinner or simply taking the time to engage in conversation with a vulnerable person, simple and easy to do and trust me they appreciate it a lot .

However, also aware how lazy or simply how busy some people are so there are websites, such as Do-It.org, which allows you to tap in your postcode to see what is happening in your local community. 

A New Year’s resolution is about more than just time and giving, it is about bringing tangible change. not only within ourselves but in other’s, as part of a more humane, compassionate and unified world.