Christmas Gift appeal

CALDERDALE'S COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2026

CAN YOU HELP?

Rotary's Christmas Appeal is in its 14th Year. Once again we are receiving significant help from both staff and students at Calderdale College. This is because Rotary needs to ensure continuity in this important Christmas appeal for many years to come.

There are many families in Calderdale, including some elderly and lonely individuals, who look forward to the Christmas period with some trepidation. For many, finances are tight and the expectations of presents during the festive season are limited. Particularly, it's the children in our community we need to help.

We need to put smiles on their faces. By children we mean not only young babies but those up to primary school and in further education to age 17. Charities locally know who they are. They identify them every Year. The appeal has helped, on average, 2000 individuals receive gifts annually. Their problems, regrettably, do not seem to be going away.

So, can you help?

From mid-November until early December, we need to fill Santa's Grotto. Working space in Halifax has been loaned to the appeal and Rotarian & Calderdale Student 'elves' will be working hard to fulfil requests that will shortly be received from around 20 local charities.

These charities, over the years, rely on the success of this appeal.We have fortunately never disappointed them.

Schools are on board, and the public will likely follow, thanks to coverage by The Courier and its associated newspapers. But we do need the support of the local business community, as well as individual donors. Would you consider a gift please?

Anything suitable for a boy or a girl from newborns to age 17. It's not easy for teenagers, but historically, we have given them warm clothing, books, Lego sets, toiletries, and more. Usually, toiletries are given to the older generation.

Gifts do not need to be wrapped; simply pass them to the person in your organisation who is coordinating, or for individual donors please contact the Rotary Club of Halifax to arrange . If you do wrap, please identify on the outside the age and whether it’s suitable for a boy or a girl.

If you would like any further information about the appeal, or to arrange a collection, please contact adam.nadeem@calderdale.ac.uk who is the administrator for the appeal or Rotarian Bryan Harkness via the contact box below.

We thank your company, organisation, and individuals in advance for considering support for the 2025 appeal. Let's all work hard to put those smiles on the faces of the less fortunate in our society in the run-up to Christmas.

Thanks are due to The Flow group for their help in promoting this programme