Reverse Advent Calendar 2026

It’s Back for a Fifth Year!

This winter, join us in making a difference with our Reverse Advent Calendar.

Instead of receiving a treat each day, add an essential item such as food, toiletries, household essentials or a festive treat to your box. By the end of the campaign, you’ll have a collection ready to help Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance and our partner food projects support local families throughout the festive season and beyond.

Now entering its fifth year, we are proud to once again be working in partnership with Derby County Community Trust and Derby County, bringing together businesses, schools, community groups, football supporters and families from across Derby to support people facing food insecurity and financial hardship.

Our 2025 Reverse Advent Calendar

Last year, the response to our Reverse Advent Calendar was incredible.

More than 60 businesses and organisations took part, alongside schools, community groups, families and individuals, helping us collect:

• 940 Reverse Advent Calendars Together, these donations represented an estimated value of:
• £28,200 in food, essential items and monetary donations

These donations helped us provide vital support to people across our community during December.

In December 2025, we provided:

Every donation helped us provide practical support, dignity and hope to people across Derby during one of the busiest and most challenging times of the year.

Our 2026 Challenge

As we celebrate the fifth year of our Reverse Advent Calendar, we want to make this year’s campaign even bigger.

Last year, our amazing community helped us collect 940 Reverse Advent Calendars.

This year, we’re setting ourselves a challenge...

1,000 Reverse Advent Calendars!

We need businesses, schools, community groups, workplaces, families and individuals from across Derby to help us reach our target.

Can you help us reach 1,000?

Every calendar makes a difference, and every item donated helps us provide food, essentials and Christmas support to people across our community.

Join Us for Reverse Advent Calendar 2026

Over the past five years, the Reverse Advent Calendar has grown into a city-wide campaign, bringing people together to support those who may be struggling during the festive season.

We are incredibly grateful to all the businesses, schools, organisations, community groups and individuals who have supported the campaign, alongside our long-standing partners Derby County Community Trust and Derby County.

Whether you’re taking part as an individual, family, school, workplace or community group, we’d love you to join us for Reverse Advent Calendar 2026.

Together, let’s spread kindness and support across our city this winter.

Key Dates

Campaign Launch: October 2026
Reverse Advent Calendar Starts: Friday 6th November 2026
Reverse Advent Calendar Ends: Monday 30th November 2026
Donations to be delivered by: Friday 4th December 2026

If these dates don’t work for your organisation, please get in touch. We can often arrange alternative collection and delivery dates or alternative donation arrangements.

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What is a Reverse Advent Calendar?

Instead of opening doors to find chocolates or treats, a Reverse Advent Calendar flips the idea on its head. Each day in December, you add an essential item—such as non-perishable food, hygiene products, or household supplies—into your box.

By the time donation day arrives, you’ll have a full collection ready to share with those who need it most. Not only does this provide vital support for our community, but it also becomes a powerful reminder of the generosity and kindness we can show together.

It’s also a brilliant way to bring the spirit of giving into your home. Children can help choose items, decorate the box, and even deliver it once it’s complete. Along the way, families can talk about food poverty and the importance of supporting one another—making this tradition both meaningful and fun.

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How to make a Reverse Advent Calendar

Our Reverse Advent Calendar runs from Friday 6th November to Monday 30th November 2026.  Each day, simply add an item from our suggested list to your box.

You can use a cardboard box, storage box or any suitable container you have at home, school, work or in your community group.

Once complete, your Reverse Advent Calendar can be delivered to one of our designated donation points by Friday 4th December 2026.

Please check the collection details for your chosen donation point before delivering your donations.

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When to do a Reverse Advent Calendar

Our Reverse Advent Calendar starts on Friday 6th November 2026, giving everyone plenty of time to collect their items before the campaign ends on Monday 30th November.

The earlier we receive donations, the more time our team and volunteers have to sort, organise and prepare them for distribution during the Christmas period.

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What to collect in your Reverse Advent Calendar

We’ve created a unique pack for you to use. Free printable poster with 25 core items which you can print out and pop on your fridge door etc.

Generally, any contributions of brand-new, sealed long-life products are appreciated (just be sure to check the dates).

A typical food parcel contains the following essential items:

Essential Non-Food Items

1. Porridge or Weetabix (breakfast type items)

2. Tinned potatoes or instant mash

3. Tinned vegetables (sweetcorn, garden peas or carrots)

4. Packet dessert (Dream Topping, Angel Delight, custard etc)

5. Tinned hot meat (curry, stew, minced meat or meatballs)

6. Biscuits

7. Tinned soup (tomato or vegetable)

8. Sugar free squash

9. Tins of vegetarian chilli or curry etc

10. Tinned cold meat (corned beef, Spam etc)

11. Noodles / Pot Noodles

12. Pasta sauce

13. Tinned tuna

14. Tinned chopped tomatoes

15. Pasta / Spaghetti

16. Tea, coffee or hot chocolate

17. Jam, peanut butter or chocolate spread

18. Rice pudding

19. Curry sauce (mild or medium only)

20. Tinned fruit (any variety)

21. Rice (500g pack or microwave packets)

22. UHT Milk (whole or semi skimmed)

23. A Christmas treat (chocolate coins or selection box)

24. Mince pies, Christmas pudding

25. Yule Log / Swiss roll

In addition to food products, essential non-food items are just as important, helping people in crisis to maintain dignity and keep healthy. Examples include:

• Toiletries, such as toothpaste and brushes, deodorant, shower gel and soap
• Feminine products
• Baby supplies, such as nappies, baby wipes and baby food
• Household products, such as toilet paper, laundry powder and washing up liquid ​​​​​​

What NOT to Include

A few key rules to keep in mind when donating:

• No fresh produce (unless confirmed directly with the DF4TA)
• No damaged items
• Nothing that has been opened, is unsealed or homemade
• No out-of-date products
• Avoid items containing alcohol as these are prohibited from distribution.

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Not able to take part?

 You can still support us by making a donation. A completed Reverse Advent Calendar box costs around £30 to put together, depending on the supermarket

• Click the donate button at the top of our page and use reference RAC2026.
• You can make a one-off gift or set up a monthly donation.

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Ready to begin your giving journey?

Download your FREE Reverse Advent Calendar Pack today and help us bring hope and kindness to families this Christmas – in partnership with Derby County Community Trust and Derby County.

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Donation Points

Derby County Community Trust – Harrison’s Hub

Royal Way
Derby 
DE24 8XL

Wednesday 2nd December 12:00-3:00pm 
Thursday 3rd December 4:30pm - 6:30pm    

These are our main public donation drop-off times.

Businesses and organisations: If you would like to arrange your own collection and delivery dates, please contact us in advance so we can arrange alternative donation details. 

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