Christmas Appeal 2025
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 since 2009.
Once again we are anticipating a high demand. If you can, please make a difference and donate to our 2025 Christmas Appeal.
Donate, give a gift, or give a hamper
For the past 16 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 2024, 3,374 young people from across Essex received gifts from the Christmas Appeal, an increase of 18% compared to 2023.
If you would like to donate a gift to a child this Christmas, here is a guide for what we need:
New and unwrapped gifts for children aged 0-18 (value of approx. £10-£20)
we are unable to accept any clothing, footwear, preloved items, or toy weapons.
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 do tell us your name if you do gift through the list (and a way to contact you), so we can thank you personally.
Give a hamper
In 2024, over 900 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 - January 2026 or later 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 (you only need to pick one from the list of three drinks), we are unable to accept individual items.
We need all hampers to be donated in a tote or ‘bag for life’.
Drop-off details:
Monday 3 November to Friday 12 December
Hargrave House, Molrams Lane, Great Baddow, Essex, CM2 7FW
Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 29 November 10.30am - 12.30pm
Why does the Christmas Appeal exist?
The Christmas Appeal is about more than gifts; it’s about providing hope and relief to families navigating immense challenges. For many, Christmas isn’t a season of abundance but one of survival.
A young child facing homelessness with their dad after losing a grandmother.
A family where both parents are battling cancer amidst extreme poverty.
A single mother of three, fighting mental health challenges while holding her family together.
These are real people and real stories, and your support makes all the difference.
Thank you to the wider community and 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. 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!)
“I nominated several children that our team work with for a Christmas present from the appeal. For some of these children, the presents provided were the only gifts they would have received on Christmas. They were all very excited to receive their gifts!” - Social worker
In 2024, 3,374 children and young people received gifts and over 900 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.
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 2024
Who wrapped and who delivered?
Christmas Appeal 2023
Another epic year for the ‘appeal’.
Christmas Appeal 2022
Who gifted what and when!