pay it forward

We all experience kindness in our lives and we all give it too.

I started a pay if forward scheme, where the Tribe could donate a little extra when buying, the odd pound here or there, or more if they so wished. I have a lot of tribe members buying membership renewals or small gifts for others that are struggling for whatever reason, or need a card to cheer them up or sending a little lunula or gift when ill. Sometimes I get asked if I can send someone a gift, or a child a book who has none, a family a card when they lost everything in a fire. The scheme helps us give small acts of kindness as a collective. We also send books to children at a school in Coventry who have a huge level of deprivation. Last year we gave 95 children a book for Christmas. Not one of them had their own book, some were lone refugees, some in foster care, some had parents in prison and lived in bedsits. The letters I got from the children broke my heart. Small kindnesses like this are important and collectively we can do a little something.

I send cards on behalf of the Chokliteers, and sometimes a Small of courage or whatever is needed.

People can ask to be on the list to receive a pay it forward gift or membership, or people can give me names to be on the list. I will add in extras too as I can. You won't always know who it went to, because I don't want people to be publicly named but it is a little bit of the Live Norty pledge in action.  

Each year I do a summary in the Tribe page of what the money went on each year. Sometimes the fund is empty, so it isn’t a guarantee of a gift, but I keep the list and when there are funds (and sometimes when there aren’t too) I send something off.

In order to fund the free stop motion films I make, and the advent calendars and facebook posts and such like, I decided that rather than crowdfunding or charging for the films, I would do a membership where you can show your support but also get something fun for your money too and a Tribe Membership with a badge and pledge and everything! How cool is that?

You can now become an official member of the Most Marvellous Tribe of Celestiner Chokliteers!

It has run for 8 years now and seems to have blossomed into something more than just a badge. We have a secret group on facebook and I do a live video chat every Sunday morning. People support each other, send courage and love, send presents and chat and friendships have been made. Tribe members have met up in real life at events and then made proper friendships that have continued. Some even go on holiday together! I am humbled by the kindness support, love and of course just plain giggly silliness that has blossomed. We sometimes have gatherings too around book launches, or events or just a meet up for tea or such depending on where you live or you can chat in the group online, or just enjoy your free shipping and not join in at all. Completely up to you.

We have an annual gathering at somewhere like Compton Verney and other members host get togethers for local Chokliteers. This is all organised in the facebook group, as the one place we can all communicate with each other easily, so it is worth joining the group if a member.

So, yes, get a badge and some choklit and a pledge and maybe a little creature on your birthday or free shipping, but also really become part of a Tribe. One who genuinely cares about you. You can join the group or not. Chat or not... all are welcome.

Membership runs yearly. First year is bought and paid for up front.

After your first year, you will be invited to move to a subscription system with options to pay a monthly subscription, spreading the cost over the year, or change tier as you wish. You can cancel the subscriptions at any time or change tiers each year. Subscribers don’t have to pay postage for their membership packs and there are some wider gift choices of animals etc.

The memberships are only offered for a month each year so we all renew at the same time. The tea bag option stays open all year for anyone wanting to join mid year.

If you don’t wish to renew after the first year, you will be removed from the groups after your year is up.

There is a secret page on my website for members which has exclusive products and offers and a facebook group that is secret so only the people in the group can find it and see what is said in there (cooer!)

You'll get an invite and the password for it when you take out membership.

Each level will have the basic badge, membership card complete with pledge, access to the members page and for higher levels you can choose a gift and free shipping. See the options.

All memberships can be sent to other people as a gift- just add a note with the name for the card and delivery address - Great birthday present!

Click on the products to see what you get for your level and choose, in some cases you have to click on the buy button to see the list of gift choices but it doesn’t add to cart till you have chosen your choices.

We have a lovely new choklit supplier . Handmade organic, ethical, fairtrade and the dark choklit is all vegan too. Hurrah for Cocoa Loco