Queen's charity finds Britain blows £3.2bn on 'tick box' Christmas presents

Detailed summary

EXCLUSIVE: Seven in 10 admit to buying at least one present because they feel they should, with each of us receiving three unwanted gifts each year.

Britain will blow £3.2 billion on “tick box” presents this Christmas while those in genuine need go without. So-called convention buying sees novelty socks, toiletry gift sets, bath products, chocolates and scented candles ​as the ​most go-to ​but unnecessary gifts. More than 70% buy at least one present because they feel they should, with each of us receiving three unwanted gifts each year.

Yet three-quarters ​admit spending time with people they care about over the festive period is ​far more valuable than receiving something bought out of ​apparent obligation.

The ​results of a poll show the majority acknowledge excessive spending could be put to ​much better use, ​with “presence over presents” identified as the real gift worth giving.

The findings from research carried out by Royal Voluntary Service, which counts Queen Camilla as its patron, are a huge boost to the Express Christmas campaign.

​We want to increase the number of lifeline ​RVS community clubs from 162 to 250 so more people can benefit at a time of crippling social exclusion and rising costs.

Across the UK, community services are disappearing, with many of the most deprived neighbourhoods having no social infrastructure to speak of at all.

The Give the Gift of Presence Appeal aims to help existing facilities survive, and for the services the charity offers to grow and thrive.

It needs £200,000 - a ​tiny fraction of the amount frittered on often unwanted and unnecessary presents - to sustain and grow the number of community clubs which have become welcoming spaces that reduce loneliness, improve people's wellbeing and strengthen neighbourhoods.

​RVS Deputy Chief Executive Sam Ward said: “We all know the feeling of picking up a last-minute Christmas present just so we aren’t letting someone down. And while giving gifts is one of the joys of Christmas, it’s heartening that so many people would like money spent on tick-box presents to support a good cause instead.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Daily Express. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.