12 Ways to Give Back This Christmas
Christmas is a time when many of us think about what truly matters. While we’re wrapping presents and planning festive gatherings, there are families across the UK spending this season in hospices, treasuring every moment together.
The good news? There are so many simple, meaningful ways to support hospice care this Christmas. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, a few pounds or a bit more to spare, here are twelve ideas that can make a genuine difference.
1. Give a gift that gives twice - our 2026 charity calendar
Looking for a thoughtful present that doesn’t add to anyone’s clutter? Our 2026 Hospice Aid UK calendar features stunning photographs and costs just £7. Every calendar sold helps us fund vital equipment for hospices across the country.
It’s a gift that keeps giving all year round, with twelve months of beautiful images whilst supporting families when they need it most. Perfect for grandparents, colleagues, or anyone who still loves a proper wall calendar.
Order your calendar here
2. Make a donation in someone's honour
Not sure what to buy for someone who has everything? Consider making a donation to Hospice Aid UK in their name. Even £10 or £20 – roughly what you might spend on a token gift – helps us support hospices with essential equipment. You could write a note letting them know their gift is helping families at the most difficult time of their lives. It’s a present that means something truly special and lasts long after Christmas.
3. Remember Gift Aid - it costs you nothing extra
If you’re a UK taxpayer, ticking the Gift Aid box means we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you donate, at no cost to you whatsoever. A £20 donation becomes £25, and a £100 gift becomes £125. Over the course of a year, Gift Aid adds thousands of pounds to our funds – money that goes directly to helping hospices provide exceptional care.
4. Set up a small monthly donation
Regular giving is incredibly valuable to small charities like ours. Even £5 a month – roughly the cost of a fancy coffee – adds up to £60 a year, or £75 with Gift Aid. It helps us plan ahead and commit to supporting hospices with ongoing needs. Monthly donors are the absolute heroes of what we do.
5. Share our story on social media
This one’s completely free and takes about thirty seconds. Sharing our posts, telling people about our work, or simply mentioning us when someone asks about Christmas charities can help us reach new supporters. Word of mouth remains one of the most powerful ways for small charities to grow.
6. Buy our calendar as stocking fillers
Struggling to fill stockings? Our charity calendars make perfect small gifts. Buy three or four and you’ve sorted gifts for teachers, neighbours, the postman, or your book club. At £7 each, they’re affordable, useful, and meaningful. Plus, you’re supporting hospice care across the UK with every purchase.
7. Choose us as your workplace charity
Many workplaces choose a Charity of the Year or hold festive fundraisers. If your office is planning a Christmas raffle, bake sale, or dress-down day, why not suggest Hospice Aid UK?
We’re always happy to provide information about our work and how funds are used.
8. Include us in your Christmas list
When family members ask what you want for Christmas, consider asking for a donation to Hospice Aid UK instead. Many people are delighted to give to charity rather than buy another gift that might not be needed. It’s particularly poignant if hospice care has touched your family in some way.
9. Host a festive fundraiser
From carol singing collections to Christmas jumper days, festive coffee mornings to sponsored December walks, there are endless ways to fundraise whilst having fun. Get friends, family, or colleagues involved and make some wonderful memories whilst raising money for a cause that matters.
10. Leave a lasting legacy
Christmas often prompts us to think about what we leave behind. Remembering Hospice Aid UK in your will, however small the amount, can help ensure that hospices continue to receive vital support for years to come. We’re always happy to have a confidential conversation about legacy giving.
11. Christmas cards? Donate what you'd have spent instead
Let’s be honest: with second class stamps now at 87p and first class at a staggering £1.70, sending 30 Christmas cards costs over £25 in postage alone – before you’ve even bought the cards. Many people are stepping away from this tradition.
Instead, why not donate what you would have spent on cards and postage to Hospice Aid UK? A typical card budget of £40-50 could fund essential equipment for a hospice. You could share a message on social media or in your family WhatsApp group letting people know you’ve made a donation in lieu of cards this year. It’s increasingly common, completely understood, and makes a genuine difference.
If you do still love sending cards, consider hand-delivering to local friends and neighbours, and reserving posted cards for distant relatives who really treasure receiving them.
12. Simply talk about what hospices do
Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is help break down misunderstandings about hospice care. Hospices aren’t places where people go to die – they’re places where people go to live as fully as possible, surrounded by exceptional care and compassion. Sharing this message helps everyone.
Ready to give back this Christmas?
Order your 2025 charity calendar – just £7 and perfect as a thoughtful gift
Make a donation – every pound helps, and Gift Aid adds 25% at no cost to you
Sign up to our newsletter – stay connected with our work throughout the year
From all of us at Hospice Aid UK, we wish you a peaceful and meaningful Christmas.
