Seven ways to give this autumn

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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Artist-designed scarves supporting ocean conservation 

Global environmental non-profit Parley for the Oceans is launching its first collection of artist-designed scarves ($450 each) at this month’s Art Basel Paris. Produced using a blend of silk and upcycled ocean plastic, the range has been imagined by Nathalie du Pasquier, Claudia Comte and Marcel Dzama, whose painterly blue scarf is a tribute to the Atlantic coast of Fire Island in New York. All proceeds will benefit Parley Foundation’s campaign against overfishing and plastic pollution.  

A 26-year-old Arran single malt for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland

Ewan McGregor has been a friend of the Isle of Arran’s Lochranza Distillery since he opened its first cask in 1998; he was given a personal cask of the same whisky that day. Now the actor is auctioning 150 bottles from his stash, all proceeds from which will go to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, a charity supporting children with life-limiting conditions and their families. The “Ewan’s Cut” bottles have been designed to reflect McGregor’s career, each labelled with a unique script referencing his roles in Star Wars, Trainspotting or Long Way Round.  

A six-course feast in aid of Palestine 

Wilson’s bistro in Bristol is hosting its first fundraising lunch as part of #CookForPalestine, a project that has raised around £30,000 for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza since it launched in November 2023. Guest chef Jenan Ashi has designed a family-style feast of Palestinian favourites, including Gazan sardine kofta, crab and tahini soup and Qamar Aldeen apricot sorbet; Wilson’s co-founder Mary Wilson has paired each course with a low-intervention wine. All revenue from tickets will be distributed between the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Medical Aid for Palestinians and Anera in Gaza.

Chantal Joffe, Zandra Rhodes, Andrew Marr and more unite to benefit brain treatment

The National Brain Appeal’s A Letter in Mind project returns for its 11th edition this month, exhibiting more than 900 “envelope” artworks at London’s Gallery Different. Participating artists include Zandra Rhodes, Andrew Marr and Chantal Joffe, and all identities will be kept secret until the work (£85 each) is sold. All proceeds will go to The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, which treats conditions ranging from strokes and dementia to brain cancer and epilepsy.

Mini masterpieces to fund a grand new artist studio

During lockdown, the Royal Society of Sculptors encouraged its artists to create miniature sculptures from 10g pieces of wax that were cast in bronze at Milwyn foundry. Now in its second iteration, the “10gram Challenge” comprises a selling exhibition of these mini masterpieces, all proceeds from which will fund the restoration of The Society’s Grade II-listed home Dora House, plus the addition of a studio for visiting artists. This year’s cohort includes Cornelia Parker, Antony Gormley, Cathie Pilkington, Michael Craig-Martin and Grayson Perry, who has immortalised his beloved teddy bear, Alan Measles.

A high tea at Claridge’s supports education programmes in tea communities  

A £5,000 donation will secure you one of six 12-guest tables at Claridge’s Rare High Tea next month (or a lucky £25 raffle ticket could win two places). Guests will be plied with hot drinks and cocktails, plus savoury and sweet offerings such as individual lemon meringue pies with raspberry sorbet, from chefs including Richard Hart of cult Copenhagen bakery Hart Bageri and Santiago Lastra of modern Mexican restaurant KOL. There will also be an auction for a table at Noma in its last season before the restaurant closes. All profits will support Rare Charity’s education initiatives in tea-growing communities, specifically in Malawi and Nepal, where it’s helping to put women through secondary and tertiary education.

Japanese lacquerware pieces contribute to earthquake recovery

New York’s Onishi Gallery and non-profit Kogei USA are collaborating on two concurrent exhibitions of fine “urushi” lacquerware this autumn: 10 per cent of sales from each work sold will contribute to the reconstruction of the lacquer industry in Wajima, a city devastated by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in January. The Spirit of Noto: Urushi Artists of Wajima features gleaming trays and boxes made by 17 artisans from Wajima; Waves of Resilience displays a new tableware collaboration between Manhattan-based interior designer Melissa Bowers and Japanese manufacturer Senshudo.