We need your support this festive season! This year, Touchstone is running a reverse advent campaign to support people who use our services to stay warm and well this Winter.

What is a Reverse Advent Calendar?

Reverse Advent Calendars are similar to an advent calendar but flipped! Instead of opening a door to receive a treat each day, we are asking you to donate items throughout the advent season to support people in our local communities.

You can support our campaign in three different ways: 

  • Leading up to Christmas, put some of our requested items in a cardboard box to create a small hamper/shoebox. Drop at one of our offices by December 15th. See below for your nearest drop off point.
  • Choose one or more items from our Amazon Wishlist to donate. The items will be sent directly to our Head Office and distributed by our staff members to our clients this festive period.
  • Drop one-off donations to our office. We welcome any and all donations of items on our list and will create our own packages from one-off donations dropped off to us!

What You Can Donate

This year, we are asking for gifts of children’s toys to go to families in our Beacon Housing service, warm clothes to support clients in our TOPS service, and refreshments and creative gifts for our Here For You service, which will support people every night over Winter, whatever they’re going through. Here’s a full list of items you can donate: 

  • Store cupboard staples i.e. cereals, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, tinned foods (veg, fruit, tuna, soup, beans etc), sugar;
  • Non-alcoholic festive foods i.e. biscuits, chocolates, sweets;
  • Households items i.e. washing powder, washing up-liquid, sponges;
  • Toiletries i.e. deodorant, shower gel, bubble bath, toiletry sets;
  • Toys – please see our Amazon wishlist for ideas and inspiration;
  • Warm clothes – please see our Amazon wishlist for ideas and inspiration but warm socks, gloves, hats and scarves are always welcome.
  • Creative gifts i.e. Mindfulness Colouring books, games etc.

For inspiration, or to buy directly, please visit our Amazon Wishlist here: Amazon.co.uk

We know times are hard at the moment for everyone and we welcome any donation, however big or small.

If you can’t donate at the moment, we’d also hugely appreciate you sharing the wishlist with your families, friends and loved ones.

If you have any questions, please email office@touchstonesupport.org.uk or call our office on  0113 271 8277.