MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE
Not sure what gift to get the Mums in your life this Mother’s Day? The Freelance Informer offers some guidance on great gift ideas from the clever, beautiful, charitable, inspirational to even the sustainable.
The Fashion-Conscious Mum
One gift that already has been approved by ITV television hosts Lorraine Kelly and Mark Heyes, the fashion presenter on the Lorraine show is the star-print “Sophie” dress from the Scottish ethical clothing brand, This is Unfolded. The dress was featured on the Lorraine show, with fashion presenter Mark Heyes picking it as a star example of “clothes that are sustainable and look sensational”.
“This is Unfolded is a Scottish company, whose whole business model is about minimising waste. Their clothes take 4-6 weeks to arrive as they are only made to order” said Mark Heyes.
There are other items to choose from of course, but the secondary gift of every purchase for Mum is her knowing that her gift will mean proceeds donated to a child’s education.
The clothing brand collaborates with Pratham, an organisation dedicated to supporting children in learning.
But how does sustainability factor in? The business said that it ensures nothing ends up in landfills – by donating any excess materials to local makers for rugs and stuffing. They pay workers higher wages from the savings created by removing waste.
There’s a limited offer now for 20% off your first order. Use code: Better-World or go to thisisunfolded.com/shop-better
The “Scent-sational” Mum
If you want to give someone a gift and an experience rolled into one, why not consider a “making your own perfume” course?
Virgin Experiences offers classes at 18 different locations across Great Britain. They also offer courses you can take and make at home.
For in-person experiences, you’ll be guided by an expert who will aid in a perfume consultation where Mum will get a little insight into the way perfumes work. They’ll enjoy blending their own unique fragrance which will be bottled in an atomiser to take home on the day. Courses start at £49.
If you really want to spoil Mum there’s a combined perfume making course followed by an afternoon tea in Hyde Park for two, but this doesn’t come cheap at £169. Siblings may have to butter up Mum over who gets to go with Mum, unless she decides to take someone else instead!
What’s included?
- Perfume consultation with a trained perfume expert
- Creation of your own unique fragrance
- A gift boxed 20ml perfume atomiser containing your bespoke fragrance
- An e-certificate with your chosen perfume name and the formula
Looking for something along the same lines, but different? Gift specialist Farrar & Tanner has a section dedicated to Mother’s Day gifts, which you can check out here. For the freelancer or work-from-home Mum in your life, their portable real wood Gingko Design Smart Diffuse Lamp has an integrated oil-burning diffuser. It creates a nice glow with a relaxing scent, perfect for a home office.
The Garden Loving and History Buff Mum
Sometimes Mums of a certain age don’t want more “stuff”, but rather experiences that can build lasting memories and days out. One gift that can last an entire year and includes 500 experiences to choose from is a National Trust membership. If you think days out with the grandchildren would make such a gift extra special, there are junior and family memberships, too.
This could even be a joint gift with other family members that also includes something from the National Trust Gift Shop, which has a section dedicated to Mother’s Day Gifts.
👍 If the person you are buying for is disabled, you can show them how to apply for an Essential Companion card so their carer or companion can visit National Trust places free of charge. Find out how to apply and what else we’re doing to make sure you have a great day out. Find out more here: Access for everyone
What do you get with a National Trust membership?
- Free entry to over 500 places in our care
- Free parking at most National Trust car parks
- National Trust Handbook, full of information about our places
- National Trust Magazine three times a year, packed with inspiration, interviews and news
- Access to our online Members’ Area, full of first look previews and behind-the-scenes features
If you pay for a joint, family, individual or young person membership by annual Direct Debit online you’ll receive a £15 National Trust gift card to spend in our shops and cafés. See gift card terms and conditions.
This year The National Trust has plans to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a diverse range of tree planting projects as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) much like the one pictured above at Dyrham Park near Bath.
Other ideas
Red Letter Days is also a good website to search for experiences for Mum and a companion if you think she’d like to have some company. Other ideas include local cookery schools that offer day classes, theatre tickets for a live show in Bath (often cheaper than London) or even local performances. Or what about a glamping adventure?
Whatever you think the Mums in your life will appreciate, it’s important to remember that your time and help are a gift worth giving not just once a year but throughout the year. But any chance to spoil her, you should.