Christmas Appeal
This Christmas, the cost of living is overwhelming many families. We believe that every child deserves a special Christmas, which is why this ‘appeal’ has taken place every year for the past 15 years.
Once again we are anticipating a high demand. If you can, please make a difference and donate to our 2024 Christmas Appeal.
Donate, give a gift, or give a hamper
For the past 15 years, we have successfully run a Christmas Appeal to source, wrap and deliver presents, and hampers, to nominated children and their families in Essex. Every year we appeal to the local community to support the appeal to help give children a better Christmas. The options to be involved remain the same…
Please Donate
to the Christmas Appeal
Donations to the appeal allow us to buy gifts for age groups that may be missing, and to ‘top-up’ at the last minute. As well to help us manage running costs and maintain core services. Thank you for giving what you can.
Give a gift
In 2023, 2,850 young people from across Essex received gifts from the Christmas Appeal.
If you would like to donate a gift to a child this Christmas, here is a guide for what we need:
New gifts for children aged 0-18 (value of approx. £10-£20)
Wishlist
For ease, check out this Amazon Wishlist.
Gifts for: 0-3 years | 3 years and up | 6 years and up | 9 years and up | 12 years and up | Teens | Sensory | Family (games etc)
Please, please, please tell us your name if you do gift through the list (and a way to contact you), so we can thank you personally. Thank you
Give a hamper
In 2023, over 700 families received a festive food hamper.
If you would like to donate a hamper, below are the contents to fill your hamper with.
Please use a bag for life or tote bag for contents:
Box of mince pies (please check the expiry date - the end of December 2024 is ideal!)
Box of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and marshmallows
Box or tin of biscuits
Box or tin of chocolates
Savoury biscuits or crackers
Chutney, pickle or jam
Crisps – sharing bag
We can only accept hampers that have all items (or one from the list of three), we are unable to accept individual items. We would like all Hampers to be presented in a tote or ‘bag for life’.
Drop-off details:
Monday 4 November to Friday 13 December
Hargrave House, Molrams Lane, Great Baddow, Essex, CM2 7FW
Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 30 November 10am -12pm
Why does the Christmas Appeal exist?
Hearing from the families who receive gifts from the Christmas appeal can be emotional:
One child told me, "I’ve tried so much harder this year to be good because I must have been bad last year." - School Inclusion Officer
Sometimes through no fault of their own, children find they have nothing at Christmas:
“These children often leave behind their belongings, so the gifts they receive through your appeal make an enormous difference.” - Domestic Abuse Refugee Charity Manager
Then they receive a gift or two and it’s a gift that will make a difference:
“This was the first time in years that I felt like we had a real Christmas, thanks to the kindness of strangers.” - Parent (nominated by a school)
Thank you to all the teams we work with across Essex who help us to make sure gifts and hampers go to the children and families most in need.
And thank you to the wider community, we couldn’t do what we do, without your generosity and support.
What your donation could mean:
£5- could pay for one or two books
£10- could pay for art materials to support a young person’s therapeutic journey
£20- could pay for two gift vouchers
£30- could pay for two food hampers
£50- could give a young person one therapeutic session
£100- could pay for a full day of the Christmas Appeal
Please Donate to the Christmas Appeal
Give a gift (click for gift ideas, or choose a gift and come and drop it in!)
Gift a food hamper (contents are listed above!)
“It’s moments like these that remind us of the power of community and the lasting impact of a simple gift. Through this wonderful Christmas Appeal, these families experienced the magic of Christmas—something they might have otherwise missed.” - School Inclusion Officer
In 2023, 2,850 children and young people received gifts and over 700 families received food hampers
Volunteer
We’re always so grateful to our Christmas Appeal volunteers. If you would like to be considered to take part, please contact us.
Nominations
Nominations into the Christmas Appeal come from Social Workers, Schools and our own professional team.
If you would like to know more about nominations and gift or hamper collections please contact us here.
Further questions
Should you have any further queries please contact christmasappeal@kidsinspire.org.uk or call the team on 01245 348707
“The Christmas Appeal is such a great and important cause at such a special time for children and families it makes a real difference. We are happy to be part of it once again.”
On behalf of all the families we support at Christmas and all year round, thank you.
Christmas Appeal 2023
Another epic year for the ‘appeal’.
Christmas Appeal 2022
Who gifted what and when!
Christmas Appeal 2021
Who wrapped and who delivered?