Eastbourne and Hailsham community invited to spread festive joy through Home Instead's Be a Santa campaign

Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham is calling on local residents, businesses and community groups to help make Christmas a little brighter for older people, as it launches its ‘Be a Santa’ gift-giving campaign for the very first time.

The local home care provider is inviting people across Eastbourne, Hailsham and surrounding areas to donate thoughtful Christmas gifts for older members of the community who may be experiencing loneliness or isolation during the festive season.

The campaign is all about showing older people that they haven't been forgotten. By donating a small gift, local people can help bring a smile to someone's face and make Christmas feel that little bit more special.

Throughout November and early December, Home Instead will be collecting donations at designated drop-off points before its team of volunteers wraps and personally delivers the gifts to older people in the community ahead of Christmas.

Bringing the community together this Christmas

For many people, Christmas is a time to enjoy the company of family and friends, exchange presents and celebrate together. However, for some older adults, particularly those living alone or without close family nearby, the festive period can highlight feelings of loneliness.

Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham hopes its Be a Santa campaign will not only brighten Christmas for those receiving a gift, but also inspire the wider community to look out for older neighbours and make meaningful connections.

Carly Cottrell, Community Engagement Manager at Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham, said:

"We're really excited to be bringing the Be a Santa campaign to Eastbourne and Hailsham for the first time this year. Christmas is a wonderful time for many, but we know it can also be particularly difficult for older people who may be living alone or have little contact with family and friends.

"Something as simple as receiving a Christmas present can mean so much, particularly to someone who wasn't expecting one. It's not about how much a gift costs, but the thought and kindness behind it and knowing that someone has taken the time to think of you.

"We're fortunate to have such a caring and supportive community here in Eastbourne and Hailsham, and we're hoping local people and businesses will get behind the campaign. Even the smallest gesture can make a real difference, and together we can help bring a little extra happiness to older people this Christmas."

How to help make someone's Christmas

Getting involved is simple. Members of the public are encouraged to donate a new, unused and unwrapped Christmas gift at one of the participating collection points by Monday 7th December 2026.

There is no need to spend a lot. Whether it's a book to enjoy, a warm blanket or a few festive treats, every contribution has the potential to make someone's day.

Suggested gifts include:

• Books, crosswords, sudoku books and puzzles

• Large-print calendars

• Cosy blankets and throws

• Mugs with tea, coffee or hot chocolate

• Hand creams and small pampering gifts

• Hobby-related items, such as knitting supplies or jigsaw puzzles

• Festive treats, including biscuits, shortbread and fudge

All donated gifts will be distributed to older people attending groups in the local community who are not currently receiving care from Home Instead.

Local collection points

With huge thanks to the support of local businesses, there are several convenient places where people can contribute to the appeal:

• UpCountry Stone Cross Garden Centre Dittons Road, Stone Cross, Pevensey, BN24 5ET

Customers can purchase a suitable gift in-store and leave it unwrapped in the designated Be a Santa collection box. Please note that only gifts purchased at UpCountry can be donated at this location.

• Sainsbury's Hampden Park Superstore (drop off point open from Thursday 12th November) Broadwater Way, Eastbourne, BN22 9PW

Shoppers can support the campaign by purchasing a gift in-store and placing it, unwrapped, in the Be a Santa collection box. Only gifts purchased at Sainsbury's can be donated at this location.

• Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham Unit E, Dittons Business Park, Polegate, BN26 6HY

Anyone wishing to donate a gift purchased elsewhere, or a suitable new and unused item they already have at home, is welcome to drop it off at the Home Instead office between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. All gifts should be unwrapped.

The final date for donations is Monday 7th December 2026

Following the collection deadline, the Home Instead team will carefully wrap and prepare the presents, ready for delivery in the week leading up to Christmas.

Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham is encouraging individuals, families, workplaces and local organisations to take part, whether by donating a single gift, collecting presents with colleagues or helping spread the word.

With the support of the local community, the Be a Santa campaign hopes to bring a little extra warmth, happiness and human connection to older people across the area this Christmas.

About Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham

Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham is a local home care provider rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), dedicated to helping older adults live well and independently in the comfort of their own homes.

Its compassionate Care Professionals provide personalised, relationship-led support, including companionship, home help, personal care and dementia care, with services tailored to each individual's needs and preferences.

Beyond providing care at home, Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham actively supports local initiatives that help older people stay connected, feel valued and remain part of their communities.

For more information about the Be a Santa campaign or Home Instead's care services, please contact:

Telephone: 01323 916901 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/office/eastbourne-hailsham/