Christmas in Abbey has always been about more than one day. Last year we said food is for life, not just for Christmas, and the response from local people, partners, and volunteers showed how deeply that message resonated. You helped fill cupboards, warm homes, and bring comfort to families who needed it most.
This year, we’re taking that same belief further.
Because support shouldn’t fade when the decorations come down.
A community shouldn’t thrive in December and struggle in January.
This is why our Christmas campaign is called A Thriving Christmas. It reflects the work we’re doing all year to help people feel secure, confident, connected, and hopeful. And it reflects what your support makes possible.
Why this Christmas matters
Many households in Abbey still face rising costs, stretched budgets, and tough choices about food. Our Food Hub stays busy each week, and people often tell us how important it is to know there’s somewhere reliable and friendly to turn to.
But people also tell us something else.
They want chances to grow.
They want skills.
They want community life.
They want spaces where children can play, young people can feel safe, and neighbours can meet each other.
A thriving community needs more than emergency help. It needs long-term strength. So this year’s Christmas appeal supports both the essentials and the things that help people build a better year ahead.
What your gift helps create
Good food and steady support
The Food Hub is still at the heart of Abbey People. Your donation helps keep shelves stocked and helps us offer food that feels dignified, familiar, and nourishing. It keeps our doors open for people who need a place where they’re treated with kindness.
Warm, welcoming places
Our community spaces are busy throughout the winter with activities for families, young people, and older residents. Your support helps us keep these spaces open, friendly, and full of life. A Christmas card might bring a smile, but a warm room filled with others brings something deeper.
Chance and confidence
We’re helping people move into steady work, build skills, and take steps that change their future. Christmas giving supports the work that carries people into the new year with more options than they had before.
Neighbourhood life that brings people together
A thriving community is one where people meet each other, talk to each other, and feel they belong. Seasonal events, shared meals, youth activities, winter gardening sessions, and simple moments of connection all need time, commitment, and resources. Your support keeps them going.
A Christmas that lasts longer than December
A gift to Abbey People this Christmas isn’t a one-off act of kindness. It’s an investment in the wellbeing of the whole community. It strengthens families, grows confidence, and helps us build a place where people feel proud to live.
And it all starts with that same idea we shared last year:
Food is for life. Support is for life. Community is for life.
With your help, we can make sure Abbey doesn’t just get through winter. Abbey can thrive.
How you can help
Give what you can
Every donation, large or small, helps us provide food, support, activities, and opportunities throughout the year.
Share the campaign
Tell a neighbour. Post online. Encourage others who care about Abbey to get involved.
Thank you
A thriving community is never built by one person or one organisation. It grows when people care, show up, and give what they can. Thank you for standing with Abbey People and for helping build something that lasts.
Here’s to a Thriving Christmas, and a thriving year ahead.
