Blackpool Sixth Supporting the Community This Christmas

At the heart of this year’s efforts was the college’s biggest-ever contribution to the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas appeal. A much-loved tradition at Blackpool Sixth for over a decade, the appeal helps bring joy to children and families across Lancashire, ensuring no child goes without at this time of year.

This year marked a new milestone, with an incredible 739 gifts donated, smashing previous records and helping hundreds of children wake up to something special on Christmas morning.

Emma Humphreys from Cash for Kids praised the college’s generosity, saying: “Thank you so much to everyone at Blackpool Sixth for the incredible donations we received on Monday. I am happy to let you know that they were all packed up on that same day and sent out to our applicants yesterday — and they all went toward helping over 2,000 children in the Lancashire area. We are so incredibly grateful to you all; it’s wonderful what you do, and you have so many kind people. As a small team of two, we couldn’t do this without wonderful people like you.”

The appeal is led by the Social Science department at Blackpool Sixth, where our Social Science students are encouraged to donate one gift each. And the generosity quickly spreads across the whole college. Reflecting on how the tradition began, Abby Heyes, Assistant Head of Social Science, said: “We first ran Mission Christmas back in 2015. There wasn’t a big plan behind it; I just wanted us, as a team, to give something back to the local community. It’s been part of college life ever since.”

Alongside the mountain of donated gifts, the Social Science team also brought plenty of festive fun. Each year, one staff member embraces the season with a different costume, from elves and the Grinch to this year’s unforgettable inflatable Santa. This cheerful fundraising helped raise over £300 in cash donations, allowing the team to buy gifts for age groups where there were shortages.

But Mission Christmas was just one part of a much wider season of giving across the college.

Across campus, students and staff pulled on their festive knits for Christmas Jumper Day, raising money for Save the Children. From sparkles to snowmen, the college was full of colour and cheer, all in support of improving children’s lives both locally and globally.

The spirit of generosity continued with the college’s participation in Helping Hearts Fylde's Reverse Advent Calendar. Food items collected throughout November were donated to support individuals and families who need it most.

Meanwhile, the Blackpool Sixth Students’ Union led The Festive Feed food collection in partnership with Blackpool Foodbank. From late November through to mid-December, donation tables in the foyer filled steadily as students and staff gave what they could, whether a single tin or a full bag, to support local families facing food insecurity.

Acts of kindness weren’t limited to donations alone. Some students also took time to write cards for residents of a local aged care home, sharing festive messages and helping to spread joy to those who may otherwise feel isolated at this time of year.

Together, these initiatives reflect the values at the heart of Blackpool Sixth: compassion, community and care for others. As the year draws to a close, the college is proud to have once again supported children, families and individuals across the Fylde Coast and Lancashire, proving that when a community comes together, even small acts of kindness can have a powerful impact. 

• 
•