How to pay it forward at Christmas

Christmas is a time for giving. Want to double-down on the feel-good factor? Give gifts that help the community, are good for the environment and support local designers.

Five dollar Christmas Cinema

Grab the popcorn, this pop-up cinema is dishing up epic weekends of classic Christmas movies. Book $5 tickets and head to the stunning Capitol Theatre for festive films including Home Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Grinch. The best bit? All proceeds from ticket sales will be distributed to support local food relief initiatives by OzHarvest, The Big Umbrella and West Melbourne Baptist Church.

Bauble personalisation station

See Melbourne's most unique new Christmas tree at QV Melbourne. Then snap up a cute bauble at the pop-up decoration station. For every bauble redeemed, QV will donate $20 to Melbourne City Mission’s summer appeal, supporting their youth homelessness services.

Bike accessories from Good Cycles 

Good Cycles sells bikes and all the accessories you need to keep yourself pedalling. The team also empower young people in difficulty by offering them employment pathways. They provide training, work experience and help looking for a job. Is there someone on your Christmas shopping list who loves riding a bike? A gift (or a gift card) from Good Cycles is a winner all round.

Brand new bubble show

A cute new Christmas show is coming to Melbourne for two magical days. Mayhem breaks loose when Dr Bubble, Santa's official bubble maker, accidentally brings a new friend to life. Kids of all ages will be dazzled by the stunning bubble displays in this Christmas adventure. Tickets are a mere five bucks, with proceeds going towards local food relief initiatives by OzHarvest, The Big Umbrella and West Melbourne Baptist Church.

Social enterprise gifts from QVWC SHOP!

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre offers support, connection and creative opportunities. QVWC SHOP! is a curated design store showcasing locally made gifts. Makers take home more than a wholesale price and all profits go back into the QVWC. Pick up beautiful silk scarves by Bravery Co to fund cancer research. Or get some sweet homewares made by Sisterworks, a social enterprise supporting women who are migrants, refugees or asylum seekers.

Gifts with purpose at the Queen Victoria Market

The Purpose Precinct is a cool Melbourne shop with a difference. Created in collaboration between Good Cycles and STREAT, it stocks products from over 20 social enterprises. You'll find thoughtful buys from brands like Clothing the Gap. We especially love the threads from local streetwear label HoMie. 100 per cent of profits go towards supporting young people affected by homelessness.

STREAT foodie hampers

STREAT boasts cafes, a catering company, a bakery and coffee roastery under its umbrella. The team have an aim of ending youth homelessness and disadvantage. They do this by offering support, training and work experience to young kids in need. Help the cause and load up on breakfast hampers, coffee packs and more from the epic hamper range.

Sustainable beeswax wraps

Plastic food wraps? Could not be you. This cute and colourful beeswax range from Clementine's has sustainable gifting sorted. Help your host keep post-Christmas leftovers fresh as a daisy without costing the earth. And you can feel pretty good about it too. The wraps are made right here in Melbourne, last for 12 months, and can be composted at end of use!

Sustainable kicks at The Sneaker Laundry

The Sneaker Laundry is a sneaker company with an environmentally sustainable stance. It detours donated used sneakers from landfill, fixes them up and passes them on to those in need. It also helps customers maintain their sneakers and keep them for longer. And, the store uses recycled packaging. So if you know a sneakerhead, pop in and grab them a gift card. You can’t go wrong. 

Gifts to fund the arts

Supporting the arts is a great way to pay it forward this Christmas. The NGVWA raises funds to help the NGV acquire important artworks and funds scholarships for students. You can do your bit by buying a cookbook from Monday Morning Cooking Club. It's filled with sweet stories of community and delicious recipes. All profits go towards the NGVWA.