By William Coleman
The team at Park Holidays are getting the festive cheer started to support those most in need. Ahead of some potentially tough times, the company is aiming to top up food banks on the run-up to the big day in December.
It will be Christmas before you know it and there’s a large number of people out there who are teetering on the poverty line and a shocking amount who are actually under it. With more jobs potentially on the line, Park Holidays UK are urging members and staff to donate to food banks to try and take the pressure off those who are facing harsh times this winter.
Instead of a traditional advent calendar that dispenses a daily treat, the Bexhill-based company has created a “reverse advent calendar”. Each day, the advent calendar will reveal a suggested item you can donate to a local food bank.
This festive calendar features 30 advent windows and, by the 30th day, Park Holidays UK hope to have gathered a generous amount of essentials, ranging from instant coffee to biscuits, fruit and seasonal snacks like the classic mince pie.
Once all the donations are collected, they will be taken to the food bank in time for local volunteers to hand out just in time for Christmas.
Ensuring that they reach as many potential good samaritans as possible, Park Holidays UK has made this calendar available to its 1,000-plus employees, and as a download to the tens of thousands of annual visitors to its 31 holiday parks
“This has been a challenging year for everyone, but especially so for those who are struggling to feed themselves and their families during these difficult times,” said group director Tony Clish.
“That’s why we decided to turn the concept of the advent calendar on its head and to make it all about giving rather than receiving.
“Whether you gift an item hiding at the back of your cupboard, or add a product to your shopping basket at the local supermarket, no donation is too little,” added Mr Clish.
The calendar, featuring the park group’s cheeky mascots, also comes with details about The Trussell Trust, which supports a nationwide network of 1,200 food banks.
Families taking part in the calendar countdown challenge can go online to the trust to find the location of their nearest food bank, where the donations can be taken.
The Trussell Trust’s latest research suggests there will be a 61% increase in food parcels needed across its food banks this winter, compared with last year.
More information and a link to the downloadable calendar is available on Park Holidays UK’s Facebook page at
