Christmas has nearly arrived, here are some of the best things you can do to support those in need this festive season. 

By Charli West

Pictured: Santa Fun Run at Princess Alice Hospice

Christmas is nearly upon us and with that comes an accelerated spirit of goodwill. It’s great to embrace that feeling of generosity and give back to the community. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best charity events taking place across south west London and Surrey this festive season, as well as local charities for you to consider donating your time or money to. 

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Christmas Charity Events

RHN Christmas Carol Concert

Holy Trinity Church, Putney – 4th December

The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability looks to provide the best possible care for people living with neuro-disability. They’ll be hosting a candlelit carol concert in December to help fundraise for their music therapy – a vital component for their residents’ rehabilitation. Guests can enjoy a mulled wine and mince pies upon arrival, before listening to carols from St Michael & All Angels Barnes Choir and readings from special guests. 

The Children’s Trust Winter Festival

Tadworth Court, Surrey – 6th December

The Children’s Trust supports children with brain injury and neurodisability, offering rehabilitation, education, and community services. Their Winter Festival is returning this year, with a whole afternoon of festive family-friendly fun on offer. Pop by Santa’s grotto, enjoy live performances, and indulge in some mulled wine, hot chocolate, or seasonal snacks. You can also try your hand at crafts in their creative corner, or why not browse the marketplace for some Christmas shopping? 

Momentum’s Christmas Spectacular

All Saints Church, Kingston – 11th December

Momentum supports families across south west London, Surrey and Sussex whose children are facing cancer or a life-challenging condition. The Christmas Spectacular is a magical evening where they will welcome the talented Laine Theatre Arts choir to perform traditional carols and popular songs from your favourite musicals. The night’s compere will be charity ambassador, actor and singer, Kim Ismay, and there will also be poems, readings, and opportunities for you to join in!

Age UK Christmas Carol Concert

St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Church, Wandsworth – 11th December

Age UK Wandsworth has been supporting older residents across the borough for over 60 years. They will be hosting a magical Christmas carol concert in December, featuring the Union Chapel Gospel Choir singing nine much-loved carols, and Bach’s Christmas music for the organ. After the concert, enjoy refreshments and mulled wine for no extra cost. 

Mary Frances Trust Film Night

St Mary Oatlands, Weybridge – 14th December

Mary Frances Trust (MFT) is a mental health and emotional wellbeing charity for adults in Surrey. The charity will be hosting a film night in December with a light supper and drinks to start, followed by a discussion of the film with herbal tea. The event is completely free-of-charge but donations are welcome.  

Festive Fun Runs

Princess Alice Hospice Santa Fun Run

Bushy Park, Richmond – 30th November

Sandown Racecourse, Esher – 14th December

The Princess Alice Hospice provides free, high-quality, specialist end-of-life care to tens of thousands of people across the London Boroughs of Kingston and Richmond and large parts of Surrey. Their annual Santa Fun Run is back for another year, giving locals the chance to run, walk, or even skip 5k, and it’s wheelchair and buggy-friendly too. They’re looking for both volunteers and people to take part to reach their goal of 1,000 Santas! All participants must fundraise at least £50 or make a donation to aid their important work. Barratt Redrow is partnering with the Hospice to support Santa Fun Run.

Mind Mental Elf Festive Fun Run

Gunnersbury Park, Ealing – 30th November

Marble Hill Park, Richmond – 7th December

The mental health charity, Mind, are hosting fun runs across England and Wales this Christmas. Don your best festive fancy dress, and walk, jog or run 5k at an event near you. Mind has also partnered with the National Trust this year, so if you take part in the event or volunteer, you will receive a free family access pass to National Trust sites. All of the money fundraised will remain in the local area, so rest assured your donations are directly helping your community. 

Volunteering, donations and more

CDARS

Community Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services (CDARS) have over 40 years experience working with individuals who experience mental health issues, substance and alcohol abuse, and neurodiversity. Their programmes are held in Merton, Kingston, Richmond, Sutton, and Wandsworth, and your donations would help offer services such as one-to-one counselling, a dance movement therapy session, or pay for a meal from their Community Kitchen. 

Coram

The first and longest serving children’s charity in the UK, Coram offers a range of services and research studies into young people to create positive change that lasts a lifetime. Their Christmas appeal is focused specifically on helping children find loving homes through adoption, supporting young care leavers navigate independence, and fund their Creative Therapies team to give children and families the tools they need to build skills and resilience. 

Rotary Club Battersea Park

The Rotary Club is a global network that looks to take action on the world’s most persistent issues. The Battersea Park club will be hosting a Christmas Day lunch and entertainment for older people in Wandsworth and are looking for volunteers to help at the event. From setting up the venue to serving meals and engaging with guests, volunteers are essential to make this lunch happen, with last year’s event bringing together 395 attendees and 200 volunteers for support.

DONS Local Action Group

Initially formed during the Covid pandemic, DONS Local Action Group is now permanent across Merton, Wandsworth and Kingston. They are a community of volunteers supporting people facing severe financial hardship and poverty, providing essential items to those in need. As well as financial contributions, the charity is also asking for food, furniture or laptop donations to help improve somebody’s life. 

WrapUp London

Until 7th December

HandsOn London aims to promote volunteering and community service as a central aspect of life in London. The Wrap Up London campaign, now in its 15th year, wants your old winter coats to help someone facing a harsh winter. In 2024, they collected over 15,000 pre-loved coats for distribution to 90+ frontline charities, including homelessness organisations, women’s refuges, and family centres. With drop-off points all over south west London, it should be easy to find one near you. 

Crisis

Homelessness charity, Crisis, are looking for volunteers to help provide a warm welcome, safety, food and companionship in the hotels and day centres that they open up to hundreds of people facing homelessness in December. There are centres in Paddington, Pimlico, and Stratford, and they ask volunteers to do a minimum of two shifts. 

Sustainable Merton

Merton’s leading local environmental charity, Sustainable Merton, who work to help inspire local people to get involved in improving local and global sustainability, are taking part in the Big Give Christmas Campaign this December. From the 2nd to the 9th December they are aiming to raise £15,000 for their Community Fridge, where every donation will be doubled by their match funders. The Merton Community Fridge has lost its funding from the council and this vital money runs out by the end of the year. Sustainable Merton are running this campaign drive to keep this lifeline open and continuing for so many vulnerable people in the community. The Fridge is not only about fighting food insecurity and food waste, but it’s also a place where people find friendship, support, and a sense of belonging. If you would like to help support this campaign, click here.

Kingston Women’s Centre

Kingston Women’s Centre is the only low-cost counselling service in the area offering in-person, long-term support for women. Christmas can be a tricky time locally for women, when loneliness and financial pressures can feel overwhelming. As mental health concerns continue to rise and the cost of living increases, access to counselling  and support is too often regarded as a luxury rather than a necessity. You can help KWC provide support for vulnerable women with donations: £35 pays for one woman to have a free counselling session, and £420 pays for one woman to have a course of 12 sessions of free counselling.