Axminster Christmas Together

19/11/2025

Dear guests, volunteers and supporters.

𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

We have been running the event since 2015, and some of our volunteers and coordinators have been there every year since. Some have expressed plans to take a well-earned break this year to dedicate time to their own families.

We also have a couple of key suppliers who have decided that they, too, will be spending the Christmas period elsewhere and therefore will not be able to support us as they ordinarily would.

In addition, we don't have the same kitchen facilities available at the Guildhall this year, and our funds have gradually been depleted as costs have risen across the board.

So the coordinating team decided that it was probably the right time to take a 1-year hiatus, and we would like to extend our sincerest thanks to everyone who has attended and helped us make the event happen over the last 9 years.

But please do not fear! We are already planning the 2026 Christmas event!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲?
We will be taking this year to raise funds and rebuild our reserves so that 2026 can be our best event yet! If you want to get involved, please let us know, as we would be delighted to hear from you!

Unfortunately, last year, we discovered that a small number of attendees had not been entirely honest with us and had attended in adult family groups, despite telling us they would have been alone on Christmas Day otherwise.

This is disappointing, as Aminster Christmas Together is specifically designed to tackle loneliness and isolation. Having attendees who do not need the service eats into our funds and makes it harder for us to deliver the event to those who really need it. As a result, we will also be taking a close look at our booking process to ensure that we can continue to deliver the event to those who do need our company.

We have written to all of last year's guests and volunteers to explain why this year's event is not taking place, but we are still here to help.

If you were planning to attend our event this year and need help making alternative arrangements, please get in touch. We really care about our ACT family, and our coordinating team will do our best to connect you with other local events and services that can help. We will also share more information about the events taking place in the area here on this page!

We are sad not to be seeing you all again this year, as we really love sharing Christmas Day with you, but we are really looking forward to seeing you in 2026!

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Wishing you our best, Lesley, Paul, Sarah and Mary.

25/12/2024

Yet another great Christmas Together!

Huge thank you to all of those who attended our 2024 event, either as a guest or as a volunteer, as well as to all those who donated money, raffle prizes or food for the event.

Every single one of you makes this event the roaring success it is and ensures we can offer all who attend a Christmas among friends year after year.

So thank you, and Merry Christmas!

See you all next year!

From Lesley, Paul, Sarah and Mary

24/12/2024

Well, that rolled around quickly, didn't it!

We are so excited to see all of our wonderful volunteers and everyone who has booked a place at this year's event tomorrow!

A few quick reminders.

🎄 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁. Please make sure you have arrived at the Guildhall by 𝟭𝟮.𝟯𝟬 tomorrow, so we can get you settled in before lunch is served.

🎅 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁. You have probably already spoken to our lovely Lesley already, but please be ready to go at 𝟭𝟭:𝟰𝟱. You may be picked up a little later than that, but many of our volunteer drivers are picking up more than one person, so please be ready to go so that everyone makes it in time for lunch!

𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝟭𝟮:𝟭𝟱, please call Sarah on 𝟬𝟳𝟯𝟲𝟳 𝟱𝟴𝟭 𝟵𝟬𝟯 and we will make sure someone collects you.

𝙋𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀 𝙉𝙊𝙏𝙀. Transport is only available to those who have booked in advance. You will need to make your own way to the Guildhall tomorrow if you did not request transport when you booked.

🌟 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀. Please arrive at Axminster Guildhall for around 𝟭𝟭𝗮𝗺; this gives us a chance to brief you and assign you a role.

See you tomorrow everyone!

(If you have not pre-booked your seat at Axminster Christmas Together, there is also a Christmas Community Buffet Lunch at Kilmington Baptist Church which you are welcome to attend. You do not need to pre-book; just arrive at 12:00 mid-day. Please do not spend Christmas Day alone.)

Merry Christmas!

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas and blessings to all.

Happy Christmas to everyone in Chardstock Village and the parishes beyond.

Who would you like to thank??

Wishing you a fabulous festive time, however you choose to spend it.

It’s been another year of some great events, in the village hall & the church from coffee mornings, summer fete, to walks, talks, quizzes, gardening events, and village show. This little village has so much to offer.

A BIG THANK YOU 🎄⭐️🙌
There are a lot of people to thank for making the village a great place to live, and those who make the time to bring all of these activities to you.
Thank you to the people behind;
the newsletter, the hall committee, the village shop and all the volunteers who help keep it open for us all, the post office, the litter pickers, the parish council and all those who help and contribute in some way. All the clubs, groups and societies, the award winners and those who put this village on the map, wildlife, environment, walks, talks and especially to all the farmers who look after the land and hedgerows around us.
I am only me and am bound to have missed someone off - so please do send good wishes and thank you’s to those who I have missed and who you would like to mention in the COMMENTS BELOW.

We know for some it’s a difficult time of year so do reach out to spend it with others at Axminster Christmas Together

09/12/2024

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲..... 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝘀!
𝙒𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨!

There is a reason so many Axminster residents choose to come back year after year and spend their Christmas Day with us at the Guildhall instead of being alone at home. But mainly its because we have great festive fun together and scrummy Christmas fayre!

We have already had so many volunteers sign up, but we still have plenty of spaces available for guests.

So if you are still sitting on the fence about weather to join us or not, hop down and book your Chrismas Lunch!

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟲𝘁𝗵.

You can find booking forms at lots of places arround town including the 5 return locations:

1. Axminster Town Council (in The Axminster Guildhalll)
2. The Axminster Library
3. Axminster Tesco (at the services desk)
4. Co-op store (West Street)
5. Central Convenience Store (Millwey Shop)

Or book online by clicking the link below!

See you there!

16/11/2024

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 ?

Wow, we have had such a great response from people volunteering to help us on Christmas Day already! What a lovely town Axminster is!. We have also had loads of guests sign up too, some new, and some we already call friends!

But we still have plenty of space so get your booking form and sign up sheets in! You have untill 16th of December to book, but the sooner the better as it helps us to plan our festivities! Booking is essential to attend the event.

You can now book online here; www.tinyURL.com/ACTbookonline or pick up a booking form from one of the following (the return ACT post boxes can be found at all of the locations marked with an "*"):

* Axminster Town Council office ( The Axminster Guildhall )
* Axminster Cooperative
* Axminster Tesco
* The Axminster Library
* Central Convenience Stores (Millwey Shop)
Pippins Community Centre
Nourish
Axminster hospital
The Community Waffle House
Courtesy Care store

We have 1 more locations to add next week but I'll update this post with those as soon as they are out.

A huge thank you to all of those organisations hosting our booking forms and post boxes. We love you ❤️

04/11/2024

Booking forms now available from:

* Co-Op,
* Tesco,
* Millwey Shop,
* The Guildhall (Foyer literature rack and in the Town Council office).

More locations to follow tomorrow! Full list comming soon!

04/11/2024

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿?
Booking is essential. Paper booking and volunteer forms will be available around town this week. But if you want to book early, you can book online today!
www.tinyurl.com/ACTbookonline
𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴:
𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹: AxminsterChristmas@gmail.com
𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁: Axminster Christmas Together, C/O 12 Charter Road, Axminster, Devon, EX13 5GR
𝗕𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱: drop it into one of the red ACT post boxes around the town.

If you have any questions, please call, email or message us here!

A polite reminder. Axminster Christmas Together is a community project but it nothing to do with Axminster Town Council. All the costs of running the event are met by kind donations from within the community, and with the help of an amazing group of volunteers who give up their time to help others.

02/11/2024

We are in the Midweek Herald. Thank you news reporter Molly Kirk

The Axminster Christmas together event, being held at Axminster Guildhall is all set to return this year and bring holiday joy to Axminster again…

02/11/2024

Exciting news! The 2024 guest booking foms and volunteer signup flyers have arrived! 🎄🎉✨️

We will be distributing them to a host of locations arround Axminster over the course of the next 2 or 3 days.

As soon as we have finished, we will share the full list of places you can pick one up, as well as the locations you need to return them to. So stay tuned!

In the meantime. You can always book your Christmas lunch or sign up as a volunteer online : www.tinyurl.com/ACTbookonline

30/10/2024

We would like to say a huge thank you to Axminster Care Service for their extremely generous donation of £500 to our events.