The festive season is a time for giving, but at ActionFunder, we believe giving can, and should, go far beyond the usual seasonal gestures.
That’s why we’ve launched Give AF at Christmas, a campaign celebrating the organisations, businesses and charities that truly make a difference in their communities. This year, we’re shining a spotlight on the stories that inspire, the initiatives that bring people together and the impact that lasts long after the decorations come down.
We’ll be sharing a collection of giving stories from our community network, clients and the not-for-profit organisations they support. From housing associations funding community projects to businesses opening their doors to local charities, these stories showcase how giving can be thoughtful, participatory and genuinely transformational.
Our goal is to highlight real-life examples of meaningful seasonal giving, and to inspire others to rethink how they can make a positive difference this Christmas.
Supporting Our Communities: SNG’s Winter Wishes Fund
Sovereign Network Group (SNG) has long believed that safe, affordable homes are just the starting point for a good life. With over 85,000 homes across the South of England, their commitment goes far deeper into creating thriving, resilient communities where people feel supported, connected and able to flourish. Since joining ActionFunder in 2023, SNG has launched 14 community funds, awarding more than £780,000 to local organisations and supporting over 860,000 people. Their priorities span everything from social inclusion and health and wellbeing to employment support and digital inclusion, and at Christmas, a time that can amplify both connection and hardship, this work becomes especially meaningful.
That’s where SNG’s Winter Wishes Fund steps in. Designed specifically for the festive season, the fund provides grants of £300 to £1,000 to support not-for-profit groups delivering vital projects for those who may find Christmas challenging. With a focus on five key priorities: magical moments for children, food insecurity, mental health, loneliness and isolation, and community-led action. Winter Wishes enables organisations to meet immediate seasonal needs while creating warmth, joy and connection. From hot meals and wellbeing drop-ins to Christmas outings, neighbour-to-neighbour support and festive community events, the fund ensures that families and individuals who might otherwise feel overlooked can experience a brighter, more supported winter.
One project that captures the heart of SNG’s impact is their support for TRAIN Didcot, a youth charity working with young people facing challenges at home, at school or in the community. Ben from TRAIN shared how SNG’s grants help them provide consistent guidance, mentoring and a safe space, support that becomes even more critical during the festive period, when pressures at home can increase and feelings of isolation deepen. With help from the Winter Wishes 2025 fund, and after asking their young beneficiaries what’s important to them this Christmas, TRAIN is providing their young people with money to buy gifts for others, enabling them to actively participate in giving, creating a sense of connection and responsibility. And is a wonderful reminder of what Christmas is all about.
Keeping People Warm and Connected: Strand Community Trust
The Strand Community Trust is another organisation putting SNG funding into action to support communities this winter. Operating the Strand Centre in Dawlish, Devon, they support more than 1,000 residents each year with food aid, advice services, social activities and a warm, welcoming space for people experiencing hardship or isolation.
Earlier this year, SNG funding through ActionFunder helped the Trust upgrade their catering Kitchen – allowing them to improve food safety, expand meal production and host more low-cost events for local families.
This Christmas, SNG’s Winter Wishes Fund is supporting the Trust again, funding their ‘Winter Warmth’ programme for children and teenagers who might otherwise be left out of festive celebrations.
With the funding, The Strand Centre can offer free gaming afternoons, film screenings, festive activities, warm meals and Christmas gifts to 150 young people facing marginalisation.
“When businesses Give AF about local charities, they make real change happen. Their support helps us keep our community warm, fed and connected. We see the challenges every day – loneliness, food insecurity, and families under pressure. But we also see the power of kindness.”Explore their Winter warmth project
Ensuring No Child Goes Without: Pelican Parcels at Christmas
Another organisation working to make this season brighter for families in need, Pelican Parcels supports some of the most marginalised households across Sussex by providing essential items and gifts. Last year they provided more than 70,000 items.
Christmas can be especially tough for the people they support. Many parents face the painful reality of having nothing for their children to open on Christmas Day, alongside the rising need for warm winter essentials such as blankets, pyjamas and hats.
Through their annual Secret Santa campaign, Last Christmas, they provided presents for over 3,000 children and families, ensuring no child or parent was left with nothing during the festive season.
“ These are families who would otherwise have nothing to open on Christmas day. Every item delivered by Pelican Parcels is a gift, we want families to feel joy when they receive them. This project ensures we can deliver gifts to the most vulnerable in our community.”
The more support Pelican Parcels receives, the more gifts and essentials they can deliver. Check out their project here.
Continuing the Story of Seasonal Impact
These stories show the practical, immediate difference that thoughtful giving can make at a time of year that isn’t easy for everyone. From creating warm, safe spaces to ensuring families have the essentials, each project demonstrates what targeted, local support can achieve. In our next blog in this series, we’ll continue exploring this impact by highlighting the work of our clients Get Living and Whitbread, alongside two inspiring non-profits, Green Skills Library and WOLO Foundation.
