Neighbourly Know-How: Making the Most of the Festive Season

For many charitable organisations, the festive season is one of the most important times of the year. It’s a moment when generosity is at its peak, volunteers are eager to get involved, and local communities come together to make sure no one is left behind.

With December now just around the corner, many causes are already moving into one of their busiest periods. Even if you’re only just turning your attention to festive planning, there’s still plenty you can do to make a meaningful impact – and to give volunteers, donors and supporters a clear way to get behind your work.

Whether you’re preparing a community meal, putting on a festive fundraiser, or applying for a winter grant, here are some practical tips to support your planning over the coming weeks.

Engaging volunteers ahead of the Holidays

The festive season often brings a surge in demand for volunteer support and with so much going on in local communities, people’s diaries can fill up quickly. There’s still time to bring volunteers on board, especially when the roles feel purposeful, joyful and clearly defined.

Here are a few ways to engage volunteers early:

• Create clear, specific roles: People are more likely to commit when they know exactly what’s expected of them (e.g. “Help wrap 50 presents” or “Serve hot meals on 20th December”).
• Lean into the festive spirit: Christmas jumper shifts, carols while packing food parcels, or mulled drinks after volunteering can all help create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
• Say thank you loudly and proudly: Volunteers want to know they’ve made a difference. A simple thank you message, photo or shout-out on social media goes a long way in helping people feel valued.

Inspiring donors to give generously

Individuals and businesses are often looking for meaningful ways to give back at this time of year. Many will still be shaping their festive giving plans and on the lookout for causes that their support will make a difference to.

Get their attention by:

• Building momentum through storytelling: Share stories, photos and testimonials from those who benefitted from last year’s support.
• Making it easy to give: Provide clear instructions for how to donate money, products or time. The simpler the process, the more likely people are to say yes.
• Creating a sense of urgency: Deadlines like “donate by 10th December to ensure delivery in time for Christmas” can encourage quick action.

Preparing for Christmas campaigns

Building on the success of last year's GoGive campaign, Neighbourly is working closely with its business partners to launch a winter fund for 2025/26 with the aim of providing unrestricted micro-grants to front-line charitable organisations across the UK. 

Keep an eye on your Neighbourly emails and our social channels for updates on when grant opportunities like this open for applications.

Christmas is a time when communities step forward as everyday heroes – giving their time, energy and resources to protect and support those who need it most. Taking small steps now, can help you harness that generosity and create real impact when it matters. 

Neighbourly is here to support you – connecting your cause to the businesses, volunteers and donors who are ready to help. Just drop us an email or visit our Help Centre.

Together, we can turn this festive season into a story of hope, kindness and community strength.