Volunteers are bringing back a Christmas Day dinner for young care leavers in Brighton & Hove, the first in over seven years. How to give or get involved.

Young people who have grown up in care in Brighton & Hove will have a Christmas Day dinner of their own this year, for the first time in more than seven years. A volunteer team is bringing the dinner back for 25 December 2026 (organisers’ website).

The day will offer a festive meal, gifts, activities and company. The organisers say the volunteer team for Christmas Day is already in place. They have not yet published the venue.

The dinner follows a national model. The appeal says it is modelled on the Christmas dinners backed by the poet Lemn Sissay’s Gold from the Stone Foundation. The organisers say those dinners began with The Topé Project, co-founded by Shalyce Lawrence and Jerome Harvey-Agyei.

How the money is being raised

Donations are collected through Open Collective, where the organisers say spending is shown openly.

A separate GoFundMe appeal had raised £1,684 from 58 donors towards a £2,000 target when we checked on 27 October. The appeal says any money left over will go to the Care Leavers’ Association.

The organisers are also looking for “50 Fairies”: 50 people who will each raise £50.

A celebration on 12 November first

Before Christmas, the team is holding a celebration for National Care Leavers Month with the Brighton & Hove Care Leavers Forum and the city council’s fostering service (event details).

  • When: Thursday 12 November, 4pm to 6.30pm
  • Where: the Conference Hall at Jubilee Library
  • Tickets: donation only, booked online
  • Who it is for: care-experienced people, children in care, foster families, supporters and professionals

The evening includes two book launches: Mole’s Move by Dr Lisa Cherry OBE, and In Care and Incredible by Dr Rosie Canning and Dr Dee Michell, which profiles 30 care-experienced people. The Care Leavers Forum will open the event and talk about its work, including Moments That Matter, a group run by care leavers for care leavers.

What it means for you

  • To give: donate on Open Collective or the GoFundMe page.
  • Businesses and groups can offer gifts, food, services or skills by emailing hello@brightonxmasdinner.com. The organisers are also looking for sponsors to give books to children and young people in care.
  • If you are a care leaver, or work with one, the same address is the way to find out more about Christmas Day.