Good deeds top Lent pledges as people look to help communities in 'times of trouble'

A recent social media poll by UK charity CAFOD found 8 out of 10 people would rather 'do something for good' than make a Lent pledge of giving something up. This shift in attitude reflects a widespread transformation as the Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, dedicates his Lenten message to hope and kindness.

This Lent people are wanting to change their traditional Lent pledges of giving up things like chocolate, crisps, and alcohol or their social media, and instead take up daily acts of kindness, a UK charity has found.

In a social media poll, conducted by CAFOD - the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales - they found that 80.8 per cent of respondents would rather pledge to 'do something for good' than make a traditional promise of giving something up.

These findings, which come during 'National Acts of Kindness Week' reflect a wider shift in attitudes, prompted by communities coming together and supporting each other during the global pandemic.

In Pope Francis annual Lenten message, he too reiterated that "it is sometimes enough simply to be kind," and important to spread hopeful acts of kindness.

"In these times of trouble, when everything seems fragile and uncertain, it may appear challenging to speak of hope. Yet, Lent is precisely the season of hope."

This idea of championing good deeds is one that has been keenly adopted by people up and down the country.

CAFOD has seen over 1,600 people sign up to their 'Walk for Water' challenge, where each person pledges to walk, run, dance, and swim the equivalent of 10,000 steps a day for the duration of Lent.

Collectively, they will complete over 500 million steps over the Lent period, in aid of the estimated 2.2 billion people globally who do not have access to safe drinking water.

One participant Kezia Harrow, 21, a student at the University of Wales, pledged to share a dancing video on social media every day. Trained in Latin and Ballroom dancing, she hopes her routines will help to lift people's spirits, bring people together and help inspire further small acts of joy and kindness.

"Dance is something that can connect us all," she explained, "and I just had so much fun combining my faith and dance into one. And, to do it in a time like this, is just a privilege and an honour."

CAFOD's Walk for Water challenge involved travelling 10,000 steps each day during the 40 days of Lent. So far, over 1,600 people have signed up to CAFOD's Walk for Water, as of 18 February 2021.