Skip to main contentEnter
Join 7,550+ people who care about this town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our work
News

Home-Start launches Christmas Jumper Day fundraiser

Local charity Home-Start in Suffolk is calling on businesses and schools to don festive knitwear this Christmas to support vulnerable families. The fundraising initiative aims to help provide vital support services across Suffolk.

Why it matters: The Christmas and New Year period can be particularly challenging for vulnerable families. This initiative provides a way for local organisations to help support those in need through a simple but effective fundraising activity.

A green Christmas jumper with tinsel and baubles on it
Local charity Home-Start in Suffolk is calling on businesses and schools to don festive knitwear this Christmas to support vulnerable families(Zoltan TarlaczGetty Images)

About Home-Start Suffolk:

  • A network of more than 280 fully trained volunteers providing practical and emotional support to families

  • Supports parents and carers with at least one child under 12 in the home

  • Helped more than 1,300 families in 2024 so far

  • Services are provided at no cost to families

  • Support includes weekly home visits, telephone and virtual calls, and regular groups

The details:

  • Participants can choose their own date to hold their Christmas Jumper Day

  • All funds raised will help support local Suffolk families

  • The charity will promote participating organisations through their social media campaigns

  • Fundraising packs will be provided with everything needed to organise the event, including posters and logos

By the numbers:

  • £25 funds a visit for a week

  • £50 funds a telephone supporter for a month

  • £100 funds a visit for a month

  • £250 can recruit and train a new volunteer

How it works: Companies and schools can sign up through a simple online form. After registering, organisations will receive guidance on running their event and collecting donations.

The bottom line: Local businesses and schools interested in participating can find the sign-up form on Home-Start Suffolk's website. The charity emphasises that even small contributions can make a significant difference to families in need.

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of Start, Build & Grow and PLMR Genesis

Despite a lack of promotion, the big reveal drew a good crowd of passersby

We're regenerating Ipswich – but we can't do it without you!

People tell us every day that our work matters – that it's making Ipswich better; that it's needed. But our work costs money, and unlike the Ipswich Star, we're not funded by national advertisers or owned by corporate US overlords. For just £4.75 a month, you can help fund our mission to restore pride of place and accelerate the much-needed regeneration of the town we call home.
Become a member →

In other news...

News

Christchurch Mansion to host major John Constable exhibition

Over 100 works by John Constable will go on display at Christchurch Mansion from 28 March, revealing the people and places that shaped the legendary artist's career in a major exhibition marking 250 years since his birth.
by
Continue reading →
News

Novelist appointed new writing fellow at University of Suffolk

Francesca Armour-Chélu, a novelist and children's author, has been appointed as the new Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the University of Suffolk, offering free one-to-one support to students looking to improve their writing skills.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our journalism is free thanks to
Our journalism is free thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
7,550+ people are already loving it