Christmas Cheer

It’s bad enough feeling lonely and isolated at any time of the year but these feelings can be particularly acute over the Christmas period. We’re worried this might feel like the loneliest Christmas on record for many people.

We’re asking for your help to spread a little Christmas Cheer to people who will find this Christmas particularly difficult. Older people have already endured shielding for many weeks which has resulted in many, many people feeling very lonely and now it looks as though this will continue over the Christmas period.

We want to be able to provide a small gift and a phone call to people over the Christmas period, so they have something to look forward to, something to open and a welcome chat to enjoy over the festivities. This will help them to feel connected to the wider community and, hopefully, lift their spirits.

We know a lot of people this year won’t be able to celebrate in the usual way and many of us will be separated from our family and friends. But we can do something to bring a bit of cheer to those most in need. Who wouldn’t love to be part of that? Let’s come together and spread some Christmas Cheer!

How will the scheme work?
Our staff and volunteers will use your donations to buy and post a small gift for an older person already being supported by one of our services. They will also arrange to call the person (or people) over the Christmas period to have a chat and enjoy the present opening experience. A further follow-up phone call will be made in the New Year to make sure they have everything they need.

If Covid restrictions permit, we will allow socially distanced door-step visits, but we will have to wait and see if that’s possible. At the very least, everyone included in the scheme will get a phone call.

Can I buy a gift and sent it directly?
No. We are asking staff and volunteers already working with or supporting older people to choose a gift they know the recipient will enjoy. Because of Covid restrictions, our buildings are not open for us to receive deliveries and we have nowhere to quarantine gifts or the ability to distribute them. We also cannot share personal contact details with you.

What will my donation be used for?
Your donation will pay for organising and buying the gift, postage, and the phone calls. We are budgeting for a maximum of £20 per person but you can donate any amount to the fund.

Who is eligible for some Christmas Cheer?
Our staff and volunteers will use donated funds to buy and post a small gift to those lonely older people most in need who are already being supported by one of our services. We aim to include 500 people already receiving services from across our charity to make sure that the present opening and chat can take place over the festive period. If we smash our fundraising target, we will expand the scheme into January 2021.

If we have any money left at the end of January 2021, we will put that towards our Befriending Service to help those people who are lonely or isolated all year round.

How can I donate?
Click here to make your donation.

Please make sure to mark your donation 'Christmas Cheer' (and don’t forget that Gift Aid will increase your donation by 25%).

If, as a company, you’d like to donate, we can provide BACS details upon request.

Is there a deadline for me to make my donation?
We would greatly appreciate a donation by December 14th, if you possibly can. This gives our staff and volunteers plenty of time to purchase, wrap and post their gift. We all know that shopping this year is a bit more complicated than usual, so we are hoping to allow a little extra time. If that isn’t possible, we will welcome donations at any time!

Thank you for any donation you feel able to make. Please share this information with your family and friends and let’s make sure that older people with few friends or family do not feel forgotten at this very difficult time.