The Original Giving Tree is back
Created as a meaningful alternative to Secret Santa, Giving Tree encourages people to either buy a physical gift or make a donation through our online shop, helping ensure that a child living in refuge receives a gift they can call their own.
To a child, who has experienced Domestic Abuse, taken away from their friends and family, to arrive in a Refuge, typically with nothing but the clothes on their back, receiving a gift makes more of a difference than you can imagine. The “Christmas Toy Box” exists because every child deserves kindness, dignity, and the magic of childhood during the festive season.
Because of your kindness, last year we were able to deliver over 5,000 Christmas Toy Boxes to children we support living in a women’s refuge or safe house across the UK, a Toy Box to every child when they first arrived within the Refuge, and thousands of individual toys that went to other disadvantaged children.
If you are interested in seeing our Report about what impact The Christmas Toy Box has for the Children we support in Refuge, please click below:
*KidsOut use the toys donated during Giving Tree to make up Christmas Toy Boxes which get distributed to the children we support in Refuge the following year.
In 2025, thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we saw a remarkable increase in Giving Tree participation. More than 1,700 companies took part, helping to provide over 77,000 toys and gifts for children affected by domestic abuse, alongside a significant increase in donations through our online shop. We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this possible.
This means this year we can increase our support, not only in Refuge, but also through Outreach programmes where families are supported in the community because there is no space within the Refuge. (Women’s Aid reported that 42.7% of referrals for a space in Refuge were turned down to due to lack of space*)
*Women’s Aid. (2026) The Annual Audit 2026. Bristol: Women’s Aid.
Can you make a difference to
It is quick and easy to register to take part in the Giving Tree – simply click on the link below and complete the form.
Some of our fantastic workplace Giving Tree donations
How
This Christmas, instead of buying fun gifts for colleagues, consider making a meaningful difference by purchasing a gift for a child supported by Refuge. Simply click the sign-up link and fill out the form to take part.
We’ll then send your organisation Giving Tree tags for everyone taking part. Each tag includes the name of a child and the gift they or their parents have said they’d love to receive from Father Christmas. While the names are fictional to protect the children’s identities, the gift requests are real.
You can either purchase the gift yourself from any shop you prefer or use the QR code on each tag to access our online Giving Tree Fun & Happiness Shop.
If you choose to buy a physical toy, you can drop it off at one of our many collection points or deliver it directly to our warehouse in Luton.
Last Christmas, we gave 73,269 toys to children—but with more young lives affected by domestic abuse, your support is needed now more than ever.
If you have any questions, check our FAQ’s below, or please feel free to email [email protected], and someone will get back to you.
Thank you in advance for your support,
The #OriginalGivingTree Team
The Giving Tree FAQ’s
How does the Giving Tree work?
Sign up via our website to order Giving Tree tags for your office HERE →
Once registered, KidsOut will send you either physical or electronic tags. Each tag includes a child’s name, age, and a suggested toy. These can be displayed on your office Christmas tree.
Encourage colleagues to take a tag and purchase the corresponding gift.
Gifts should then be delivered to your nearest Collection Point.
KidsOut will collect the toys and distribute them to children living in refuge.
When will I receive my tags?
Tags are dispatched within two weeks of receiving your submission.
You will receive an email confirmation once they’ve been sent, along with a marketing poster and FAQs.
If you haven’t received your tags within two weeks of the confirmation email, please contact: [email protected]
Can we wrap the presents?
We kindly ask that gifts are not wrapped, as refuge staff must inspect all items before distribution.
Wrapped gifts will still be accepted, but please note they will be unwrapped prior to delivery.
Is there a cost to the business?
No, there is no charge to participate.
What is a Collection Point?
Collection Points are businesses that kindly offer storage space for nearby companies to drop off their Giving Tree gifts.
How do I find my nearest Collection Point?
A list of Collection Points will be available on our website from October, this will be updated weekly.
When should gifts be delivered to a Collection Point?
Gifts should be dropped off between 30th November and latest by 11th December.
Please refer to the Collection Point list for any specific instructions.
What if we miss the deadline to deliver gifts to a Collection Point?
If you miss the 11th December deadline, we ask that gifts be couriered directly to our warehouse:
KidsOut, 130 High Town Road, Luton LU2 0DJ
Please note: courier costs are the responsibility of the sender.
