25/10/2026
𝗪𝗘'𝗥𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞! 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗔𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗦 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚! 🎄
The ACT team have had a couple of fantastic meetings to kick-start preparations for Christmas 2026, and we can't wait to bring everyone together again!
Our booking forms will be available soon. In the meantime, we want to reassure everyone that we 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 be going ahead this year, just as promised! ❤️
We'll let you know as soon as the forms are ready, including where to collect and return them.
There are a few important updates for this year, so please take a moment to read through them.
𝟭. 𝗔 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿: 🎅
Our Christmas event was created specifically for people who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. It's about companionship, conversation, good food and making sure nobody has to face the day alone.
Last year, we became aware of a small number of bookings made by family groups or couples who would not otherwise have been alone on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, this meant that some guests who came along seeking companionship found themselves feeling isolated when sharing tables with established groups.
Our event is free for every guest, thanks to the generosity of our volunteers, fundraisers and supporters. However, our places and funds are limited, and we need to make sure they're available for the people the event was created to support.
We therefore ask that 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. There are other local events and venues that may be better suited to those wishing to celebrate together as a group.
This year, we'll be reviewing booking forms more carefully to help ensure that places are offered fairly and in keeping with the purpose of the event. If financial hardship is a concern, we're always happy to signpost people to other local services that may be able to help.
💚 𝗔 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀: We absolutely welcome anyone who needs a carer to help them attend. Please make sure your carer completes a booking form and indicates who they're supporting on it. Nobody should miss out because they need assistance.
𝟮. 𝗔 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗨𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲! 🏠
𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴! This Christmas, we'll be welcoming guests to Axminster Town Football Club 'AFC'
Unfortunately, the Guildhall no longer has the kitchen facilities needed to prepare a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings for around 100 people. Thankfully, the football club has all the facilities we need!
We're excited to try our new venue. The space should allow us to create a more cosy, festive atmosphere, and the lower ceilings may also help guests who have previously found the Guildhall's acoustics challenging.
We'd like to say a huge thank you to Axminster Town Council and The Axminster Guildhall for hosting us over so many years. We're incredibly grateful for their previous hospitality and ongoing support.
We'd also like to thank Axminster Football Club for making their facilities available to us on Christmas Day this year. We're looking forward to making it feel wonderfully Christmassy! 🎄✨
𝟯. 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧
With our change of venue, some guests may need transport who haven't needed it before, while others may no longer require it.
𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲. You can indicate this on your booking form once it's available.
We're also looking for volunteers who could help transport guests to the event from around 11am and home again at around 4pm.
If you have a suitable vehicle and could spare some time to help, please look out for our booking form and complete the volunteer application on the reverse, you don't have to stay for the duration if you have other commitments. Every helping hand makes a difference! ❤️.
𝟰. 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦
This year, we'll be making a few small adjustments to help our funds go further. Our goody bags will be scaled back slightly, and we'll have fewer raffle prizes. In previous years, the raffle has sometimes run on for quite a while, so we're hoping that having fewer, but better, prizes will make it more enjoyable for everyone!
If you'd like to donate a raffle prize or contribute towards our general running costs, we'd be incredibly grateful. Please get in touch and we'll let you know how you can help.
And while we're talking about fundraising, please take a look at one of our founders' campaigns:
✂️ Paul's Bad Hair Day !
Every donation, contribution and act of kindness helps us bring people together at Christmas.
❤️ 𝗟𝗘𝗧'𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗔𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗬𝗘𝗧! ❤️
We're so looking forward to seeing familiar faces, welcoming new guests and sharing another special Christmas Day together.
Thank you to everyone who supports us, volunteers their time, donates, fundraises or simply spreads the word. This event wouldn't be possible without you.
Keep an eye on our page for booking forms and further updates. We can't wait to see you all! 🎄🥰
Sarah, Paul, Mary & Lesley
