Thank you to everyone who supported our Big Give Christmas Challenge this year, and for making it our most successful fundraising campaign to date! We understand how the festive season can be a challenging time, and your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Taking place between 3 and 10 December 2024, the Big Give Christmas Challenge offered us the chance to have all donations matched, doubling the value of each gift.

We originally set a target to raise £45,000, doubled to £90,000, and we were astounded to reach this just three days into the campaign. With many donors still keen to support, we were able to extend our target to £60,000, doubled to £120,000.

In total, after donations were matched, we have raised an incredible £126,299! This is 50% more than last year and will have a huge impact for older people living with loneliness.

The festive season can be a particularly difficult time for older people, especially those who have lost loved ones. Patrick, who lost his beloved wife, was still grieving when he received his first Christmas call from a Re-engage volunteer:

He explained: “I was in a desperate situation. I was beginning to wonder why I was still here. But then I began talking to Marta and she brought me around. I feel completely different now. She’s a saviour.”

Loneliness can be debilitating, especially at this time of year. Thank you for helping to provide a support network to older people like Patrick, not only through call companions but through our regular tea party and activity groups. Together, we can ensure that older people who may have felt very isolated continue to feel valued as individuals, form friendships, and no longer feel so alone.

A special thank you also goes to the Scouloudi Foundation, 3i and CFC Underwriting who kindly pledged £60,000 to double each donation received during Big Give week.

If you didn’t manage to take part in our Big Give appeal, you can still make a Christmas donation today. Anything you can give will help to reach even more older people over the next year.