Looking back - Care at Christmas 2025
Published 8 January 2026
As we reflect on Christmas 2025, we’re proud to look back on a season filled with kindness, fun, fundraising and community across Making Space services nationwide.
From festive parties and creative activities to generous donations and heartfelt moments of togetherness, this year’s celebrations truly brought our values to life. Embracing our core value of Kind Hearts, colleagues, volunteers, supporters and the people we support came together to build empathy and a strong sense of belonging.
Throughout December, everyone played a part in ensuring no one felt alone at Christmas. Our #CareAtChristmas campaign sat at the heart of the festive season, helping to fund vital activities, emotional support and opportunities to reduce isolation during what can be a challenging time of year.
CARE AT CHRISTMS APPEAL & RAFFLE
As we move into the new year, we want to say a sincere thank you to everyone who supported our #CareAtChristmas appeal. Together, you helped raise £4,000 to create opportunities and brighter days for carers and the people we support. This included the sale of our Christmas cards designed by young carers in Cheshire East, which alone raised an incredible £2,220.
Our Christmas raffle was also a real highlight of the festive season, with fantastic participation from across the organisation. In total, the raffle raised an impressive £712 - our highest total to date.
Congratulations to all our lucky winners and thank you to everyone who took part and helped make this such a success. A full list of winners and prizes can be found below.
MAGICAL MOMENTS FROM CHRISTMAS 2025
Christmas celebrations took many forms across Making Space services, each creating moments that truly mattered. Here are just a few highlights:
In Rotherham, carers, volunteers and supporters came together for a Christmas Fayre, raising an incredible £557 to help make the carers’ Christmas party extra special. Meanwhile, at Poppy Court in Coventry, residents enjoyed a magical pantomime trip to see Sleeping Beauty, festive meals with all the trimmings, bingo fun and thoughtful gifts shared by colleagues.
At Kingshill in Wigan, kindness was at the heart of the season. Residents supported a children’s Christmas gift appeal, enjoyed festive parties, baking sessions, trips to the Manchester Christmas Markets and even AI-inspired cookie baking. Ashwood Court in Lowton was filled with laughter thanks to Christmas jumper catwalks, sing-alongs, pantomime trips and a mischievous visit from the Grinch.
Carers’ services across the country hosted Christmas parties and events, offering moments of joy and support at a time that can feel especially challenging. From celebrations in Cheshire East, Bradford & Airedale and Doncaster, to winter festivals in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, carers were able to relax, connect and feel valued.
Elsewhere, people we support enjoyed festive meals and outings in Darlington, Lancaster, Manchester, Stockport, Knowsley, Wyre and Ellesmere Port, while volunteers from the Making Change Group were thanked with a festive meal in recognition of their dedication throughout the year. Creative activities such as card making, tree decorating and arts sessions added calm and colour, while Christmas balls, red-carpet parties and visits from Santa created memories to treasure.
You can see more highlights and photos from Christmas 2025 by following us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MakingSpaceUK
RAFFLE WINNERS
Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets for this year’s Making Space Christmas raffle. All winners have been contacted directly by the Fundraising Team, so please check your inbox if your name appears on the list below.
- £200 cash - Craig Routledge
- Two tickets to Manchester United v Crystal Palace in February (donated by McQuillan Insurance Brokers) - Rob Mitchell
- £50 holiday voucher and hamper (donated by Marcus Edwards from Not Just Travel) - Deborah Appleyard
- Vimto Goodies Hamper (donated by Nichols PLC) - Rebecca Horridge
- £30 food and drink voucher (donated by BRUNCH in Culcheth) - Pippa Penfold
- Collagen Boozt- Cherry Flavour supplements (donated by Zinzino) - Fay Peacock
- Hamper (donated by RedRock Communications) - Sarah Connor-Brooks
- £20 M&S voucher - Joanne McMillan
- £15 The Entertainer voucher - Graeme Eardley
- Hamper (donated by Yellowhammer Stockport) - Debbie Standish
- Three-hour Paintballing Session (donated by Delta paintballing) - Jennifer Thompson
- Driver Race Session voucher (donated by TeamSport Go Karting) - Chris Elliott
- A day out for 2 adults and 2 children (donated by Smithills Adventure Farm) - Chris Murphy
- Mini pedal exerciser - Diane Crosby
- Bottle of Gordon’s Mediterranean Orange Gin - Anthony Raine
- Wine packages - Jennifer Thompson, Rebecca Horridge & Gemma Tindall
- Sparkling Winterberry Candle (donated by Yankee Candle) - M Clarke
We hope our winners enjoy their prizes, and we look forward to bringing you more festive raffle fun in December 2026.
Thanks to everyone involved, the Care at Christmas appeal raised vital funds and in-kind donations to support carers, families and individuals during the festive period and beyond. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our supporters - from businesses donating gifts and prizes, to volunteers giving their time, and colleagues going above and beyond to make Christmas special.
From all of us at Making Space, thank you for being part of our Christmas story. Here’s to another year of kind hearts, strong communities and making space for better days.