Festive event for those on their own under threat

A community event that helps bring people together on Christmas Day is facing closure unless a new organiser can be found.

Simon and Sarah Thompson, from Hadleigh, Suffolk, set up The Christmas Present Trust in 2015, running it in the town's Ansell Centre.

It has provided festive meals and entertainment for hundreds of people who cannot be with family or friends on the big day.

But due to health reasons the couple are unable to carry on with it, and they have so far been unable to find anyone to take over.

"We set it up to provide a meal on Christmas Day for anyone who, for whatever reason, couldn't be with family or friends," Mr Thompson, 59, said.

"We didn't want to use the word 'lonely' – there's too much stigma behind that.

"We know people who are perfectly happy to be by themselves on Christmas Day but there is a societal pressure on people to be with family or friends.

"All the adverts go out and you'll see the family get-together and such, [but] there are many people who, for a multitude of different reasons, can't be with family or friends."

Mr and Mrs Thompson have always been the driving force behind the event.

Over three or four days they decorate the hall, cook all the food, host the day itself and then clear everything up.

Mr Thompson estimated they would spend between 12 and 14 hours on their feet each day, but the event was a "real party atmosphere".

Now, though, they want to focus on Mr Thompson's health.

"It's health and family. We haven't had a family Christmas in nine years," he said.

"I thought if we carried on the way we're going, and I couldn't cook on Christmas Day, then we're stuffed. Both of us have found it really, really draining."

For the past year-and-a-half, the couple have been attempting to find someone to take over the event, but nothing has come to fruition so the event faces finishing for good.

"The only people who have definitely expressed a desire to take it on are those who are already doing too much within the town," he said.

"That's not fair and that's not what we want."

If the couple are unable to find anyone to take over, they will donate the funds they have already raised this year to local charities.

They estimate they will have between £4,000 and £5,000 ready to be donated.

"If somebody comes to us with a viable proposal before everything's gone, or while we've still got the money at the very least, then we'd be happy to discuss it with them," Mr Thompson added.

"We've both had a wonderful time but it's not physically possible for us to continue. It's a mixed feeling."

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