Guidance and resources to help you make the most of the Christmas Box Appeal
Thank you for your interest in the Christmas Box Appeal. Whether you are simply thinking about joining in, or your school has already committed to supporting the appeal, hopefully you will find all the information you need to make a decision or get started here.
Please get in touch if you have any questions: christmas@houseofopportunity.org or 07562 794 444.
Can my school join in?
We would love to have your school’s involvement this year! Our logistics coverage is mainly limited to Southern England, South & West London (not central), and South Wales. If you are northeast of the M40, west of the M5 or east of the M/A23, please do get in touch and we’ll discuss how your school might be able to join in with the appeal.
There are two different ways that schools can take part in the appeal, and a number of schools are now adopting the second approach, which offers an opportunity for all pupils to get involved in one way or another, regardless of family income.
Take a look at the options below to help you decide which will be best for your school. You can then use the sign-up form via the button below to register for this year’s appeal. Thank you!
The deadline for signing your school up to support the Christmas Box Appeal is 5th November.
Deadline for all boxes to get to us in Salisbury is Friday 27th November, but we may be able to collect directly from your school during the two weeks before this date.
OPTION 1:
Individual pupils make boxes at home and bring them into school.
This is the most familiar way of making boxes. The process usually looks something like:
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Your school confirms its support for this year’s Christmas box appeal.
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Optional presentations take place in school assembly, ideally before end of term in October.
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Children take home a leaflet each, containing instructions on how to make a box and make a donation (£4 suggested) for its shipping, along with ideas and suggestions of what to put in the box. The Download Leaflet below can be downloaded and printed at school, or e-mailed to parents or shared via your school comms. Alternatively, you can order full-size leaflets from us when signing up for the appeal online.
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Children bring in their boxes by a deadline date fixed by school and House of Opportunity (will be in Nov).
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House of Opportunity arrange collection of boxes (normally day after above).
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Boxes are checked & packed for shipping and…
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Distributions in SE Europe normally take place in December.
OPTION 2:
Collective approach that offers everybody the chance to participate; ensuring that those who may not be able to make a box in the way described above have an opportunity to join in.
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School chooses to support campaign.
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Optional presentations take place in school assembly, ideally before end of term in October.
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Children take home lists of items to purchase for boxes. Lists supplied by us – see resources, below. Parents can buy and donate items in bulk, such as:
Sweets
Small toys
Balls
Jigsaws
Skip ropes
Combs & hair accessories
Pens/pencils/cases
Colouring books
Sticker books
Toothpaste/brushes
Soap/facecloths
Gloves/Hats/Scarves
Buying items in this way will be cheaper and less time intensive for the parents.
If your school is using Option 2 we ask for a donation of £3.50 per box to help with shipping and distribution costs. This can be requested from parents via the “ask” that features on the items lists, which also includes a direct donation method. Alternatively the PTA could target this.
In addition, empty shoeboxes will need to be sourced (size up to 320mm long x 180mm wide x 118mm deep).
Note: Empty boxes will need wrapping, so paper and wrappers (patience required!) will need to be sourced. In some schools the PTA adopt the project and raise funds to add to the donated items and provide wrapping paper.
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Items are brought into school and a time set for the children to make up the boxes from the donated items. Working in pairs or small teams, they choose from the donated items to make up boxes using simple the process and guidance supplied below (under Resources).
You will need to plan plenty of time for this activity. Some schools will set aside a day for classes to come into the main hall one by one throughout the day if the whole school is taking part.Things to consider when preparing boxes:
Variety Add in warm things to wear, practical items, tasty treats, fun items (content suggestions).
Condition New in good, working order
Quality Ask yourself, “would I be happy to receive this box..?” All boxes are opened and checked by our volunteers, and unsuitable contents are removed.
Category: We always need more boxes for older boys! -
House of Opportunity arrange collection of completed boxes (will be in Nov).
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Boxes are checked & packed for shipping and…
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Distributions normally take place in SE Europe in December.
A number of schools are now adopting this second approach and have found it to be a very effective means of teaching about related issues as well as supporting a positive cause. It can help cover a number of curriculum items and has involved the whole school as even those whose parents cannot contribute get the chance to join in with the box making.
Isabella & Jonas from Woodford Valley CE Primary School made a short video to explain how this approach works…
Resources
Downloadable templates and materials to support OPTION 2.
Christmas box items lists
We can supply your school with some lists like those pictured. You can tell us how many of these you want via the registration form. We will supply four different lists to make sure you are able to ask families for a spread of items (e.g. a school has 100 children – we will supply 25 of each of the four different item lists). An example list can be seen here.
Alternatively, you can download and edit your own version that you can then print out and send home with pupils, below.
Download items lists
Word version of items list that you can edit, then print & send home.
Download lists
