Home Instead calls on local community to ‘Be a Santa’ and spread festive kindness to older people this Christmas

Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham is inviting local residents and businesses to help make Christmas a little brighter for older people in the community with the return of its heartwarming ‘Be a Santa’ gift-giving campaign.

Following last year's campaign, the local home care provider is once again encouraging people across Brighton, Hove and Shoreham to donate a thoughtful Christmas gift for an older person who may otherwise go without.

The initiative aims to spread festive cheer and remind older members of the community, particularly those experiencing loneliness or isolation, that they are valued and remembered at Christmas.

Members of the public are invited to donate new, unused gifts at designated collection points, where they will be collected, wrapped and personally delivered by Home Instead volunteers to older people in the local community in the lead-up to Christmas.

Making a difference, one gift at a time

While Christmas is often associated with family gatherings, celebrations and togetherness, the festive season can be a particularly challenging time for older people who live alone or have limited contact with loved ones.

Through the annual Be a Santa campaign, Home Instead hopes to bring a little extra joy to those who need it most, while encouraging the local community to come together in the spirit of giving.

Liz Brackley, Owner of Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham, said:

“Christmas should be a time of warmth, kindness and connection, but we know that for some older people in our community, it can be an incredibly lonely time.

“Our Be a Santa campaign is about showing people that someone is thinking of them. Even the smallest gift can make a real difference, bringing a smile to someone's face and reminding them that they haven't been forgotten.

“We're incredibly grateful to everyone who gets involved, whether that's donating a gift, spreading the word or helping us bring a little Christmas cheer to someone who needs it. It's a wonderful example of what our community can achieve when we come together.”

How the community can get involved

Taking part couldn't be easier. Simply donate a new, unused and unwrapped gift at one of the collection points before Friday 4th December 2026. Gifts donated at Dobbies Garden Centre must be purchased in-store.

Gifts don't need to be expensive. A small, thoughtful present can go a long way towards making someone's Christmas feel special.

Suggested donations include:

• Books, puzzles, crosswords or sudoku books

• Large-print calendars

• Cosy blankets or throws

• Mugs with tea, coffee or hot chocolate

• Hand creams or pampering gifts

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

• Festive treats, including biscuits, shortbread or fudge

All donations will be distributed to older people in the community who are not currently clients of Home Instead.

Where to donate

Dobbies Garden Centre Warren Road, Brighton, BN2 9XX

Visitors can purchase a gift in-store and place it, unwrapped, into the designated Be a Santa collection box. Please note that only gifts purchased at Dobbies can be donated at this location.

Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham Waterside House, Basin Road North, Portslade, BN41 1UY

Members of the public are welcome to drop off any new, unused and unwrapped gifts at the Home Instead office between the hours of 9am - 5pm (Monday - Friday), whether purchased elsewhere or a suitable unwanted item they already have at home.

The deadline for donations is Friday 4th December 2026. Home Instead volunteers will then wrap and prepare the gifts for delivery in the week leading up to Christmas.

Whether it's a cosy blanket, a favourite festive treat or a book to enjoy, every donation is an opportunity to bring a little happiness to an older person this Christmas.

Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham encourages local residents, businesses and community groups to get behind the campaign and help spread some festive kindness.

About Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham

Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham provides high-quality, personalised home care to help older adults continue living safely, independently and happily in their own homes.

Offering a range of services including companionship, home help, personal care, dementia care and live-in care, its dedicated team of Care Professionals provides compassionate, relationship-led support tailored to each individual's needs.

Alongside its care services, Home Instead is committed to making a positive difference in the local community through initiatives that promote connection, wellbeing and inclusion among older people.

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

Telephone: 01273 284090 Email: [email protected] Website: www.homeinstead.co.uk/office/brighton/