Six ways to spread festive cheer in NewcastleGateshead

Christmas is around the corner and it might feel a little different without the Christmas parties, festive meals out and theatre trips. 2020 as a whole has been a challenging year for many of us as we faced the unprecedented impact of coronavirus. We hope you find plenty of festive things to do in NewcastleGateshead to celebrate with your loved ones this December?

If you fancy spreading the Christmas spirit a little further, then there are some brilliant charities and fundraising initiatives you can be part of this December that will pass on the Christmas good cheer to the people in our community who are struggling. 

Here are just six ways that you can spread a little bit of Christmas spirit, including donating essential supplies, buying a Christmas lunch for a vulnerable person in our community or getting active to raise money for Cash for Kids.

Run 5km, donate £5, challenge 5 others to do the same. NE1’s Festive Five Fun Run is a great way to get out in the winter air, stretch your legs, and help a good cause - Cash for Kids Mission Christmas. You can run your 5k anywhere, at any time during December. So start thinking about who you are going to nominate and dig out your trainers to take on the challenge. Good luck!

The Newcastle and Gateshead Spirit of Christmas appeal was launched by Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council and Connected Voice to help community organisations in their vital work to support those people and families who are most in need, at a time when those needs have never been greater.

Whether it's donating the money you would have spent on a workplace Christmas party or perhaps donating the price of your next glass of mulled wine. All donations to the Spirit of Christmas Newcastle are gratefully received. All money raised will be distributed to local charities as quickly as possible to boost their depleted funds and support their efforts in our communities in the lead up to and during the festive season. Grants will be split evenly between organisations in Newcastle and Gateshead.

Click here to donate.

The People's Kitchen in Newcastle invite you to join them in supporting people across the city. For a fiver, you could help feed a friend this Christmas. The People’s Kitchen supports hundreds of Friends across the city every day and its volunteers have been up thousands of meals for over 30 years.  

This Christmas, why not consider giving a fiver to help the team of volunteers serve a hot meal to someone who might otherwise go without? As well as serving a hot meal, volunteers provide friends with clothes, wellbeing packs, food parcels, and sleeping bags. Not only on Christmas day, but seven days a week all year round.

Find out more and donate to The People's Kitchen's Christmas campaign here.

1 in 5 people live below the poverty line and COVID-19 has had a huge impact on individuals and families across Newcastle this year. The West End Food Bank do not think anyone in the community should have to face going hungry. That is why they provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. When you are next (safely!) whizzing round the aisles at your local supermarket, why not consider picking up a little extra to donate to West End Food Bank? Their most needed items are non-perishable foods including custard, rice pudding, curry sauce and jam as well as nappies and pull ups. 

Find out more and donate food or gifts of money to West End Food Bank here.

Now this will not only spread the Christmas cheer but share some much needed fun and escapism to families in Newcastle. Throughout December, Seven Stories will be going door-to-door, distributing books, food and telling magical festive stories to children on their doorsteps. Seven Stories is asking for donations of £10 (or whatever can be spared) to support the delivery of this activity in the east end of Newcastle over the next two weeks. Seven Stories which is based in Ouseburn is one of the region's fabulous attractions which has not been able to open since it's brief reopening in the summer. This is a wonderful way to gift the joy of imagination! 

Find out more and donate to Festive Doorstep Stories here.

Local charity North East Homeless will be spreading some much needed Christmas joy to those in real need in our local community on Christmas Eve. The charity and their volunteers will be out on Christmas Eve providing warm Christmas dinners to the most vulnerable. The meals are prepared by staff and volunteers at their Fish Quay Hub where they will also be serving food.

Find out more and make your £4.99 donation through NEOffer.co.uk's Christmas campaign.