gifts to fill your stocking (and heart) with joy

Yes, it is indeed Christmas next week. And if, as always, it’s crept up on you a little this year, we’ve got a few last-minute gifts that will fill your stockings with joy and your heart with pride, as the proceeds support some incredible charity-led projects…

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Calendar girls & guys
As we get more excited by the day that Christmas is coming, it’s not a time of joy for a lot of people, with loneliness affecting money, especially older people in the community. Local charity Time to Talk Befriending do an amazing job in Brighton & Hove and Sussex, offering a befriending service that matches their incredible volunteers with people in the community that need it. This year, they captured some of the beautiful friendships that have come out of their service across the city to create a charity calendar. Proceeds go straight back to them so they can continue their incredible work. Plus, they’re only a tenner a pop! Order online and pop into their Hove office to collect before Christmas.
acuppasbestshared.co.uk

stocking-filler
Hummingbird Hearts
Who wouldn’t feel joy from wearing a handmade red felt heart badge made with pure love? Exactly, almost no-one (we think)! Local registered charity The Hummingbird Project provide aid and solidarity to refugees and unaccompanied minors as they flee from conflict and settle in new countries. They support some incredibly bright and resilient young people through the Global Social Club, a social youth club open to all, as well as the Young Leaders Club where young refugees are trained in public speaking and advocacy. They also offer extra support through a Homework Club to help them catch up on their studies and pass exams so they can seek further education and employment. If you buy yourself a badge for £5, not only will you have the compliments coming (trust us!), but you can wear it with pride knowing that every penny is going towards keeping this amazing work going. The perfect table gift for all the family too!
etsy.com

Seven Seventeen Candles
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We’ve shared our love for scented candle legends Seven Seventeen before, but we thought we’d remind you about their gorgeous collection of waxed lovelies created here in Sussex by two former journalist mates, as we think they are the perfect Christmas gift. Not only do they smell incredible, but for every candle sold they donate £1 to one of their chosen mental health charities, PANDAS FoundationCalm, and Sane. Now that is a gift worth giving. Get in there quick as Wednesday 19th December is the last day to order online in time for Christmas. If you’re out on a last minute dash, hit up Nola(42 Gardner Street, Brighton) or Igigi (31 Western Road, Hove) to find your favourite scent!
seven-seventeen.co.uk