Random Acts of Kindness Day 2024

Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated on February 17th each year. It's a day dedicated to spreading kindness and goodwill by performing simple acts of kindness for others. These acts can range from helping a stranger, complimenting someone, or volunteering your time to a charitable cause.  

Over the weekend, members of the Olive Branch Fostering family took the opportunity to extend kindness within the local community from Rawtenstall to Darwen, demonstrating the profound impact even the smallest gestures can have. 

Let’s take a look at what they got up to… 

Some of the Random Acts of Kindness demonstrated from our Olive Branch family over the weekend were: 

• Placements Manager Kirsty visited her local Sainsbury’s in Darwen with her daughter to give some chocolates to the local Big Issue distributor. Kirsty’s daughter has been a regular visitor since she was a toddler, saving up her pocket money to buy the newsletter when she can, and she was still remembered and greeted with a smile. 

• With a helper in tow, Team Manager Mel handed out lots of little treats to members of the community. She said, ‘What a great example of demonstrating kindness to our younger generation.’ 

• Flowers and kinder egg treats were given to a lovely lady selling the Big Issue in the pouring rain. 

• Shannon our SSW met one of our young people with a bag full of treats, including a box of their favourite Viennese whirl cakes! 

• Director Joanne gave a beautiful bouquet of flowers to a lovely stranger. Joanne said, ‘It was a lovely feeling to give something to someone I didn't know. The surprise of the gesture was heartwarming to see.' 

Even though this year’s Random Acts of Kindness Day has passed, there’s always room to show small acts of kindness in our day to day lives.  

If you’ve been inspired by these lovely gestures from the Olive Branch family, you can try some of your own too. 

Here are 12 easy ways to show an act of kindness to those around us, whether this be to a stranger, friend, or loved one. 

1. Smile at strangers you pass by on the street or in the shops. 

2. Hold the door open for someone. 

3. Compliment a colleague or friend on something they've done well. 

4. Offer to help someone with a task. 

5. Listen attentively to someone who needs to talk, without judgment or interruption. 

6. Send a thoughtful text or message to a friend or family member, letting them know you're thinking of them. 

7. Donate items to a local charity or shelter. 

8. Leave a positive note or message for someone to find, whether it's a family member, roommate, or colleague. 

9. Buy a coffee or meal for the person behind you in line. 

10. Practice patience and understanding in challenging situations. 

11. Offer words of encouragement or support to someone who is going through a tough time. 

12. Take time to express gratitude towards those who have helped you or made a positive impact in your life. 

We hope you will enjoy spreading kindness throughout the North-West and beyond as much as we have here at Olive Branch Fostering.