Vernon Building Society launches Christmas Appeal 2025

Vernon Building Society is launching its 2025 Christmas Appeal, aimed at supporting families across the region during one of the most emotionally and financially challenging times of the year.

This year’s Christmas initiative will support a new charity partner: Chelwood Foodbank Plus is a Stockport charity providing essential support across the borough with foodbanks in Cheadle Hulme, Brinnington and Edgeley.

The Vernon is calling on the community to support the appeal by donating unwrapped gifts for children and adults, such as toiletries, socks, pyjamas and toys; festive treats for Christmas food hampers like mince pies, Christmas puddings and crackers, and food gift items such as luxury biscuits and branded teas and coffees.

Collection points will be open at each of Vernon’s six branches in Stockport, Hazel Grove, Poynton, Marple, Reddish and Bramhall from Thursday 30 October to Friday 28 November. The gifts will be distributed across Chelwood’s three foodbanks in Chelwood Baptist Church in Chedle Hulme, Chelwood Community Hub in Edgeley and Brinnington Community Church in Brinnington.

Darren Ditchburn, CEO at Vernon Building Society said:

“We’re calling on the people of Greater Manchester and Cheshire to support this community-wide effort to spread kindness, dignity and festive joy to those facing hardship this festive season. If you’re in a position to help, this is a great opportunity to give back with a small act of kindness that could make a big difference to those that might otherwise go without. Every gift, treat, and essential item donated can help bring comfort and hope to local families.

“Chelwood Foodbank Plus already does incredible work in the region but is relied on even more at Christmas when financial pressures, emotional stress and isolation hit hard. We want to ensure that every child has a gift and every family has food on its table this Christmas and hope that our Members, colleagues and wider community will help us make this happen.”

Chelwood Foodbank Plus works all year round to provide urgent, practical support to those in need across Stockport. In the past year alone, its volunteers have issued 2,960 food parcels, helping 4,661 adults and 3,992 children.

Linzie Hogan, General Manager at Chelwood Foodbank Plus said:

“Households face many additional costs associated with food, gifts, childcare and heating at Christmas and from 2022 to 2024 we saw a 49% spike in demand for our services. As this is likely to increase again this year with rising costs of living, support from the Vernon and the local community is vital and very much appreciated.”