How to have an ethical spring

Sasha Reid shows us that putting an ethical twist on springtime could open the door to a world of new and exciting experiences.

As well as plants, you’ll find many more products to buy on Oxfam. Everything is explained at: www.oxfamunwrapped.com.

Spring for most is a lovely time. There’s chocolate, there’s occasionally some sunshine and there are lots of chances to spend time doing what you like best – whatever that may be. This year, why not try doing it a little differently?

Spring means a lot of work for all the gardeners – planting, digging, more planting… Where would you usually buy supplies? Have you ever thought about buying them at Oxfam – and possibly saving a life at the same time? How fantastic does that sound! Try www.oxfam.org.uk/plants for more information.

As well as plants, you’ll find many more products to buy on Oxfam. If you’ve got a wedding to go to, why not buy something a little different for the happy couple? After all, who wants five kettles and an iron for wedding presents? Why not create your own ‘ethical’ list? Everything is explained at: www.oxfamunwrapped.com.

Even if Easter has been and gone, I know I still have a craving for chocolate. There’s Cadbury’s and Lindt – but have you ever bought Fairtrade chocolate? That’s chocolate from which profits are split equally to benefit the farmers as well as the manufacturers. That could pull a whole country, where farming is the main industry, out of poverty. It could mean a better future for children, the chance of an education… the possibilities would be endless. The best part about it is, Fairtrade doesn’t stop at chocolate. Check out www.fairtrade.org.uk for a whole list of Fairtrade products and shops that supply them.

What with all the bank holidays, most people find themselves at a loose end – so why not volunteer? Oxfam shops need assistants and offices need staff and, for all those music lovers among you, Oxfam are now recruiting people to be stewards at festivals during the summer months. You could go to Leeds, Reading, V - but demand for places is high, so be quick! All you need is a bit of willpower.

You might also want to check out the Oxfam Youth Board, a group of young people who share the goal of extinguishing extreme poverty. It's fantastic to hear about other people like yourself, and it gives you a great boost to know that you are part of such a huge effort. You can find out all about all Oxfam’s volunteering options for young people at: Generation Why: Volunteer.

So this spring there is no excuse not to keep those creative juices flowing and try doing things with an ethical twist, instead of the typical, mundane way. And spring is only the beginning of the year; ethical summer and ethical autumn have a certain ring to them too.