Academic Kindness Gift Circle - Sign Up Now Closed

​The other day I tweeted a random thought, as it came to me (as I do more often than I would care to admit...)

Today I think we should set up an academic kindness gift circle. I want to send things to people to make them smile.

— Ellie Mackin (@EllieMackin) October 2, 2016

​The tweet got a small amount of attention, and enough - I think - to warrant actually setting a gift circle up. A traditional gift circle is based on people's needs, but I want this to be based on the need for solidarity and smiles - that's something we all need as early (or not!) career academics who are perhaps struggling with all kinds of extra pressures. Therefore, gifts should have the sole intention of making your giftee smile, feel happy, contented, more hopeful, and/or less alone in the academic wilderness.

How this particular gift circle will work is a bit like a Kris Kringle. For now it will be a one-off, perhaps with repeats every 6 months or so depending how we go. As I'm aware that many people won't be in a position to be sending off gifts willy nilly.

So - if you would like to be part of this one-off academic kindness gift circle, please fill out the form below. I will recruit my partner to randomly assign gifters to giftees, and then I will send out the details of who you will be sending a gift to.

The spend limit will be £15- (excluding postage), but please do not feel as though you must spend this much. I am aware that even £15- can be a lot of money for someone. Gifts should be sent within one month of receiving your giftee. Gifts can be bought or made, and you can choose whether or not to reveal yourself to your giftee.

Please do not send food unless you know your giftee's dietary requirements