Mission Christmas FAQs

Drop-off Points

Can my company be a drop-off point for the public / how do I become one?

We have limited main drop-off partners featured on our website who we have logistics in place with, and don’t currently take open registrations to be a drop-off point. We’d love you to become a Mission Christmas supporter and have lots of ways you can get involved including collecting gifts, fundraising, volunteering or making a cash donation. Please register your support here.

Can my business / workplace still collect gifts from our staff?

Yes! You’ll just need to deliver the gifts directly to one of our drop-off points or Mission Christmas HQs no later than the 17th December 2026. Please contact your local Cash for Kids team before visiting Mission Christmas HQ so we can make sure someone will be able to meet you.

How else can we support Mission Christmas?

We’re so grateful for any support you can give – you could make a donation, host a Christmas Jumper Day, donate gifts or cash in lieu of a workplace Secret Santa, register to fundraise or run a raffle or quiz in aid of Mission Christmas. Find out more here.

Donating Gifts

Where can I drop off my gift(s)?

Please see our drop-off map here (available from 16th November to 17th December 2026). You can take your new and unwrapped gifts to any of these locations or to one of our Mission Christmas HQs, details of which will be provided from 16th November 2026. Please note: Mission Christmas HQ will not be open until November and then only within certain hours – please contact your local Cash for Kids team to check before visiting.

Can I donate gifts online?

Yes! Give via our Gift List (available until 17th December 2026) to choose from a selection of gifts which will be shipped directly to Mission Christmas HQ.

What sort of gifts should I buy?

We support children from birth to 18, but always struggle most with gifts for babies and teenagers (especially boys).

Do you accept food?

Unfortunately we can’t accept donations of any food. If you have food to donate, please give it to your local food bank.

Do you accept selection boxes?

Yes – these must be new and sealed and will only be given as an addition to a gift bundle.

Do you accept second-hand or used gifts?

We can’t accept any second-hand or used gifts, regardless of their condition, for health and safety reasons. We also only accept new gifts to ensure that the children we support are getting something new for Christmas – especially since it may be the only gift they receive.

Do I need to wrap the gifts?

All gifts should be unwrapped. Gifts are left unwrapped for safety reasons, and to enable us and the organisations we support to work out which age group they are suitable for.

Do I need to label suitable ages on gifts?

There’s no need to do this – we always check the age outlined on the box.

Do you accept rolls of wrapping paper?

Yes we do! We pass these on to other local charities and organisations who receive gifts so parents and carers can wrap their children’s presents.

What about presents that require batteries?

Batteries can be expensive for parents to buy, so if possible please do provide them. Please tape batteries to the side of the box so that children can play with their gift on Christmas Day.

Do you take clothes?

We do, but please try to only donate clothing that is one-size-fits-all (e.g. hats and scarves) as we aren’t given sizing information for the children we support. Please also remember that this is a gift appeal, so we would appreciate it if you chose an item of clothing suitable to give as a gift. Clothes must be new and carry all washing and safety tags. Unfortunately we can’t accept hand-made clothing.

Do you accept second-hand clothes?

We don’t accept second-hand clothes as Mission Christmas gifts but you can take them to one of our Cash for Kids recycling banks which are available in many areas. Please visit cashforkids.org.uk/recycling and enter your post code on the map to find your nearest textile recycling bank. We’ll receive money for the items which will go towards our granting programmes.

Can I take gifts bought elsewhere to other stores acting as drop-offs?

Yes – please see the map (available 16th November – 17th December 2026).

Can I take gifts directly to your warehouse?

Yes – our Mission Christmas HQs can also be found on the drop-off points map and details will be published in November. Please note: Mission Christmas HQs are open from 16th November to 17th December 2026 for gift drop-offs, and please contact your local Cash for Kids team before visiting.

When do you need the gifts by?

As early as possible, and no later than 17th December.

Where do the gifts go? How are they distributed?

Gifts are sorted by our team and volunteers. The gifts are signed for and collected by the organisation who has applied on behalf of the children they work with. The organisation then wrap and distribute the gifts to the children they are supporting.

Why do you stop taking gifts in before Christmas Eve?

We, along with the organisations we’re supporting, need a few days to sort and deliver the gifts to children and their families. Closing donations a little before Christmas allows everyone to get their gifts in time.

Donating cash

How do I donate cash?

Please donate online here.

You can also donate by texting MISSION to 70905 (£5 donation), 70910 (£10 donation), 70920 (£20 donation), or 70930 (£30 donation)*.

What will cash donations be used for?

Cash donations will go to buy gifts for children who could wake up on Christmas Day without anything to open, and support our work throughout the year.

Applying for gifts

How do I apply for Mission Christmas gifts?

You can apply online here.

What’s the age range of the children you support?

From birth to 18 years old.

Who can apply for gifts / am I eligible?

All applications should be made by a representative from an official organisation, such as a school, teacher, social worker, doctor/GP etc. on behalf of all families and children. Unfortunately the general public can’t apply directly.

Please also view our eligibility criteria here.

Do Cash for Kids grant to toy appeals?

Due to the volume of applications we receive we’re unable to accept applications from other toy appeals.

Do Cash for Kids grant to Christmas parties?

Due to the volume of applications we receive we can’t support applications for Christmas parties.

Has my application been successful?

Our gift application system will send you an email once we receive your application, which will contain a unique tracking number. We’ll always do our best to fulfil every application we receive, but cannot completely guarantee this as we rely on donations to the appeal.

When will I receive my gifts?

You’ll receive an email when your gifts are ready to collect. All gifts should be ready for collection no later than 22nd December.

We receive applications for many thousands of children and rely on donations to fulfil each request, and applications for some age ranges are harder to fulfil than others, so you’ll only hear from us when all of the gifts for every child in your application are ready for collection.

Please don’t contact the team to ask about the status of your order as it slows our processing down.

Is there a maximum number of children I can apply for?

No, but please be aware that large orders do take longer to be fulfilled. Please ensure that every child you are applying for is in need of the gifts and meets our eligibility criteria.

Can I amend my order to increase the number of children?

Yes, as long as this is before you’ve been informed that it’s ready for collection. If not a new application will be required.

How can I amend or add to my application?

Please get in touch with us using the information on your application confirmation email.

Have I missed the deadline to apply?

The deadline for applications is based on the volume of gift donations we receive – so we may have to close and reopen applications in some of our areas during the campaign. Please check the application forms available here to see our current status for your area. We’ll always do everything possible to ensure that no child goes without at Christmas so if the application form is closed please follow the provided instructions to contact us if you have a request.

Can I apply for cash instead?

We generally don’t accept applications for cash – Mission Christmas is a gift appeal. However, in certain extreme circumstances, it may be necessary for us to switch the appeal to a voucher distribution system. If this occurs and you’ve applied for gifts we’ll contact you to advise on the next steps.

Cost-of-Living grant applications are open over the festive period in the West of Scotland only. Find out more here.

My application is on the ‘Waiting List’. What does this mean?

When application levels reach capacity (based on the volume of gifts received and the number of children we’ve been able to help in previous years) any subsequent applications are moved to a Waiting List. This will be clearly indicated on the application form and confirmation email. Please be aware that such applications are NOT live, and it’s highly unlikely that your application will be successful due to the volume already received. We need to fulfil all the applications on the live list before any on the Waiting List can be considered. You’ll be notified if we are able to move your application on to the live list. At no point is an application a guarantee that we will provide gifts.

Collecting gifts

Can someone else collect my order?

Only if they’ve been registered on your application form in the ‘Authorised Collectors’ area, and identification must be provided.

Can I pick specific items?

No – our volunteers pick gifts in-line with your application age ranges. However if you have a particular need for specific gifts please outline this on your application in the additional information section. We’ll do what we can to fulfil such requests but can’t guarantee that this will be possible.

Can I swap gifts for others that I see when I come to collect?

Making changes to the gifts you are collecting at this point will not be possible. Your order will already be fulfilled ready to collect.

Where is your warehouse / Mission Christmas HQ?

The address, directions and collection instructions will be included on your ‘Ready to Collect’ email and application tracking page. A list of all Mission Christmas HQs will be published in November.

You MUST only attend Mission Christmas HQ on the date and time that you’re advised once your application has been accepted and completed. Please DO NOT come to collect without receiving your specified collection date and time.

What time are you there till? Can we pick up late?

Collection times and dates will be specific to each organisation and will be communicated to you once your application has been processed.

Can you deliver the gifts to me?

No, we’re not able to deliver gifts. Unfortunately for safety, logistical and data protection reasons all gifts must be collected from the warehouse by a person named on the application form.

When do I need to distribute the gifts?

Gifts must be delivered in time for Christmas. In exceptional circumstances where gifts cannot be distributed before Christmas, they must be distributed as soon as possible thereafter. Any gifts that have not been distributed by 31st January must be returned to Cash for Kids for redistribution.

Can we call you about our application?

No, you’ll receive an email to tell you when the gifts are ready. We process a large volume of applications so are unable to follow up by phone.

What if we need gifts by a certain date?

Please specify this on the application form, although we can’t make guarantees as we rely on donations to fulfil application. The more flexible on dates you can be, the more opportunity we’ll have to fulfil it.

Fundraising

My workplace / school / nursery would like to be involved, can we have posters and fundraising packs?

Please click here and sign-up to support Mission Christmas to get a downloadable fundraising pack, containing posters and lots of other useful ideas and materials.

How can our staff / pupils raise money?

We want everyone to get involved in Mission Christmas! Cash can be donated online, we’ve got fundraising packs available to download and you can create an online fundraising page – click here for more information.

Should we buy gifts with the cash raised?

We would encourage that any cash raised is donated to us or used to purchase gifts from our online Gift list as we have deals in place to purchase gifts in bulk at reduced rates compared to retail pricing. Funds may also be used for specialist gifts, e.g. for children with additional needs. Please donate any cash raised to us rather than purchasing gifts yourselves, as we use the donations to provide grants to support local children living in adverse poverty.

You can donate online here.

You can also donate by texting MISSION to 70905 (£5 donation), 70910 (£10 donation), 70920 (£20 donation) or 70930 (£30 donation)*.