Christmas Appeal 2026
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 support our 2026 Christmas Appeal.
Donate, give a gift, or give a hamper
For the past 17 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 help us give children a better Christmas. The options to be involved remain the same.
Please donate
to the Christmas Appeal
Your donation helps us provide gifts where they're needed most and cover any last-minute gaps. It also supports the running of the appeal and helps us continue our work with children, young people and families. Thank you for your support.
Give a gift
In 2025 we delivered gifts to 4,025 children and their siblings - an increase of almost 20% compared to gifts delivered the previous year.
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.
Our wishlist
Check out our Amazon Wishlist with lots of inspiration or personally drop them to our Head Office in Great Baddow.
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.
Partnering with Dunelm’s Delivery Joy campaign
This year, we're delighted to once again be partnering with the Dunelm store in Chelmsford as part of their Delivering Joy initiative. For over five years, Dunelm has been helping us bring gifts to children and families across Essex through our Christmas Appeal. In 2025, around half of all gifts donated came directly via Dunelm stores in Chelmsford and Ipswich.
Getting involved couldn't be easier. From 13 October, simply:
Pick a tag from the Delivering Joy tree in the Chelmsford store.
Buy a gift (it doesn't need to be bought from Dunelm) and place it unwrapped in an unsealed gift bag.
Return the gift, along with the tag, to a Dunelm colleague by the stated deadline.
Once donations have been collected, Dunelm colleagues, alongside the Kids Inspire team and volunteers, will work together to sort and prepare the gifts for distribution to schools across Essex.
To learn more about the Delivering Joy campaign, visit the Dunelm website.
Give a hamper
In 2025, over 600 families received a festive food hamper.
Please use a bag for life or tote bag for contents:
Box of mince pies (please check the expiry date - January 2027 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. We are unable to accept individual items.
Drop-off details:
Monday 2 November to Friday 11 December 2026
Hargrave House, Molrams Lane, Great Baddow, Essex, CM2 7FW
Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 5 December 10am - 12pm (our only Saturday drop off date)
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 person fleeing an abusive home, trying to find safety and stability, who found a small moment of hope through receiving a gift.
A family dealing with a cancer diagnosis, where the stress of treatment and daily life can make the festive season feel impossible.
Single-parent households and large families struggling financially, for whom a Christmas present might otherwise be out of reach.
Children who have never experienced Christmas before, who now have the chance to feel included, celebrated, and cared for.
These are real people and real stories, and your support makes all the difference. Thank you for being part of this vital effort.
Please Donate to the Christmas Appeal
Donate
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
Give a gift using our Amazon Wishlist
Gift a food hamper (contents 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 2025, 4,025 children and young people received gifts and over 600 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 2025
Our biggest Christmas Appeal yet.
Christmas Appeal 2024
Who wrapped and who delivered?
Christmas Appeal 2023
Another epic year for the ‘appeal’.