At Switchshop, corporate social responsibility isn't a box to tick, it's something our team genuinely believes in. Every winter, we run a company-wide appeal to support charities and communities facing some of the hardest challenges the colder months bring. From homelessness and food poverty to ensuring every child wakes up to something on Christmas morning, our winter appeals are one of the ways we put our values into action. Below is a look at what we've achieved together over the years, and what drives us to keep doing more.
Foodbank Appeal 2024: Supporting Families Through the Trussell Trust
Food poverty is one of the most difficult realities facing families across the UK, and in the winter of 2024, Switchshop chose to direct our annual appeal towards the Trussell Trust Foodbank network.
Our employees donated items from the Trussell Trust’s most-needed list, and Switchshop topped up the collection with a company donation to ensure maximum impact. Every tin, every packet, and every pound donated went towards easing the burden on families who were struggling to put food on the table.
The Trussell Trust supports millions of people across the UK every year. We were proud to play even a small part in that mission, and grateful to every member of the Switchshop team who gave so generously.
Toy Appeal 2023: Bringing Smiles to Children at Christmas
One in five children in the UK will not receive a Christmas present this year. That statistic stopped us in our tracks.
The reasons are wide-ranging, the cost-of-living crisis, families fleeing domestic violence, ill health, financial hardship, and more. But the impact on a child waking up on Christmas morning is the same regardless of the cause.
In 2023, Switchshop set itself a challenge: collect 100 toys and gifts to distribute to charities supporting children who might otherwise go without. Our team rallied, our community responded, and the gifts were distributed to multiple charities in time for Christmas, each one representing a child who deserved to feel seen, valued, and celebrated.
Because every child should have something to unwrap on Christmas morning.
Clothes Appeal 2019: Warmth for Those Facing Homelessness
Winter is the most dangerous time of year for people experiencing homelessness. In 2019, Switchshop reached out to homeless shelters and charities across the region to ask a simple question: where can we help?
The answer was clear: warm clothing, sleeping bags, and basic toiletries were among the most pressing needs. Our team responded with extraordinary generosity, donating a total of 262 items including winter clothing, sleeping bags, and toiletries to those who needed them most.
For someone sleeping rough in the middle of winter, a warm coat or a sleeping bag isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. We’re proud of every single item donated and grateful to the charities who helped us get them to the right people.
Part of Something Bigger
Our winter appeals are just one part of Switchshop’s wider commitment to corporate social responsibility. From volunteering days and fundraising challenges to community partnerships and charitable donations, giving back is woven into the way we work, all year round. Explore our CSR work.
Switchshop: Technology with Purpose
Switchshop is a leading UK IT and cybersecurity provider supporting businesses, public sector organisations, schools, and healthcare providers across the UK. But behind the technology is a team of people who care deeply about the communities they are part of, and who believe that business has a responsibility to give back.
Our winter appeals are one of the ways we live that belief every year.
