How Cards for Good Causes began

In 1959, James “Jim” Jackson, Secretary of the British Diabetic Association, gathered a group of medical charities together to discuss the coordination of publicity for selling charity cards at Christmas. In 1964, they began selling cards from empty shops in town centres. The name “Cards for Good Causes” was first mooted in 1971, but it was not until 1988 that it was formally established as the trading arm of The 1959 Group of Charities.

Cards for Good Causes Today

We are the UK’s largest multi-charity Christmas card organization with the most shops in the country.

Our aims are simple – offer the widest choice of charity cards and keep raising as much money as possible each year for our charities.

Cards for Good Causes sells cards on behalf of more than 320 national and local charities. In most shops at least 25 charities are represented.

Cards for Good Causes manages a national network of 350 charity Christmas card shops, throughout the country, from Truro to Pitlochry.

Cards for Good Causes sells charity Christmas cards from temporary shops set up in sites such as churches, libraries, community centres, tourist information centres and museums.

Most Cards for Good Causes shops are staffed by volunteers, with most managers receiving modest remuneration.

In the last five years charities have received over £20 million from their card sales through Cards for Good Causes outlets. From this total, the charities had to pay for the production and distribution of their cards and any VAT.

It’s not just Christmas cards! In most shops Cards for Good Causes also sells a range of Christmas goods, including advent calendars, Christmas wrapping paper and gift tags to help meet operating costs.

Cards for Good Causes Limited (VAT No GB 458 9691 78 Registered in England No 2260866) is the trading company of The 1959 Group of Charities (Registered Charity No 249039). Head and Registered Office: 1 Edison Gate, West Portway, Andover, Hampshire SP10 3SE