Tackling loneliness is one of our key objectives. Loneliness can be found across society and within all age groups. We want to support those charities who reach out and often act as a catalyst to bring people together. We got to know Together Co, a charity based in Brighton, in early 2025 and were impressed with their approach and track record so decided to support their hamper programme and Winter Warmer celebration.
Ruth Lumley from Together Co sent us this insight into these programmes and the joy they bring to so many.
“When Peter, 67, opened his door to two Together Co volunteers in late November last year, he didn’t just receive a winter hamper, he received company.
“Thank you all so much for my Christmas gift box, delivered this morning by two fantastic young ladies. They were very nice and friendly and made me feel joyful.”
His experience captures the heart of Together Co’s work; small moments of human connection that help the people the charity supports feel like they are a part of their community.
Peter was one of 250 people to receive a winter hamper in 2025, triple the number delivered in 2024, each one carefully curated and packed by volunteers.
Items such as non-slip socks, puzzles, books and tea were included, while handwritten cards added a personal touch. Behind the scenes, support from partners helped make this citywide effort possible.
But the real magic happened on the doorstep. Volunteers didn’t just drop off a parcel, they stayed for a chat and made sure no one felt forgotten. Each delivery became a moment of care for someone facing the winter months alone.
This campaign was part of the wider work of Together Co, Brighton & Hove’s social health and loneliness charity, which supported more than 2,300 people in 2024/25 through befriending and social prescribing services. Nearly 500 volunteers now contribute to this work, offering more than 14,000 hours of support annually to tackle loneliness across the city.
Just two weeks after the hampers were delivered, volunteers came together again for the charity’s Winter Warmer celebration supported by funders. The event brought 160 people into one warm, welcoming space at the Leonardo Royal Waterfront Hotel in Brighton.
Guests enjoyed a two-course lunch, live performances from dementia-friendly singer Karen Etherington and the Brighton Welsh Male Voice Choir, and a mix of gentle, joyful activities including hand massages, tarot readings and magic tricks. Funded coaches meant that many guests who might otherwise have stayed home could attend and feel part of something bigger.
Emily Daniel, Together Co CEO, said: “Our Winter Warmer is a reminder that connection is essential to wellbeing. Community is something we create together.”
For Patricia, who attended the event with her befriender Jackie, the shift was palpable.
She said: “It can feel difficult to meet people with the way we live and work now. People find it harder to mix and meet in person than they used to. The Winter Warmer – eating and talking together – is the antidote to that.”
As Together Co looks ahead to another year, the need for this work remains urgent. Loneliness does not disappear after the festive season, but neither does the strength of community, not when people, partners and volunteers continue to come together with the belief that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued and connected”.
Find out more about Together Co’s work, or get involved:
The Foundation will continue to support Together Co in the amazing work they do in tackling loneliness. We will be discussing with their great team how we can work together on the next programme or event.