LIDL KICKS OFF MASSIVE CHRISTMAS CHARITY CAMPAIGN WITH £125k DONATION – HERE’S HOW SHOPPERS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Lidl is donating £125,000 in grants to charity partners for festive events and food parcels, as 91% report a need for financial support
• Discounter’s Christmas Toy Bank to return, aiming to donate over 100,000 toys to children in need to help ensure a magical Christmas for everyone
• Local charities invited to join Lidl’s 2025 Community Fund through its partnership with Neighbourly

Lidl has today unveiled its Christmas charitable drive, pledging £125,000 in grants to support charity partners hosting festive events across the country. This announcement coincides with the return of Lidl’s popular in-store Christmas Toy Bank, as the discounter calls on customers to donate toys and bring joy to children in need this festive season.

As demand from local charities and community groups continues to surge, Lidl is responding to urgent calls for help. An overwhelming 91% of charities within Lidl’s Toy Bank charity network would welcome financial support to host festive events, and 85% are planning special gatherings for their communities who may otherwise struggle to celebrate Christmas this year. The £125,000 in grants will provide essential funding to purchase food and supplies, ensuring more families can experience the magic of the season.

In addition to the grants, Lidl is asking customers to help make a difference by contributing to its nationwide Christmas Toy Bank. With 97% of Lidl’s charity partners needing toys to distribute this year, the discounter is aiming to donate over 100,000 toys, reaching more children than ever before who might otherwise go without.

Starting from 1st November, customers can drop off new and unopened toys at any Lidl store across the country, which will then be distributed locally to children of all ages through the partner charity network to help ensure a magical Christmas for everyone. Items such as toys, games, books, puzzles, and arts and crafts can be donated, from small stocking fillers to larger gifts.

Ryan McDonnell, CEO of Lidl GB, said: “Supporting local communities is at the heart of what we do at Lidl. Together, with our customers, we’re following the festive tradition of helping others through our Toy Bank and festive grants. We’re proud to provide this much-needed support to our charity partners and, with the help of our generous customers, bring smiles to thousands of children at Christmas. Our partnership with Neighbourly allows us to provide food and resources to those who need it most, and our £125,000 in festive grants will help ensure that even more people can enjoy the season together.”

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, added: “We're delighted to be partnering on this scheme again this year. Lidl's toy bank has been hugely successful over the past two years, with countless local charities telling us of the joy it has brought to the families they support. Every gift of any size donated to Lidl’s Toy Bank will be greatly received.” 

Calling Charities to Join Lidl’s Community Fund in 2025

Looking ahead, Lidl is encouraging more local charities to sign up for support through its partnership with Neighbourly, including its food donation programme for 2025. Since launching this initiative in 2017, Lidl has donated the equivalent of 26.5 million meals in partnership with Neighbourly to those in need through its work with over 1,500 local charities.

Lidl continues to donate £500,000 annually through the Lidl Community Fund to tackle hunger and provide essential support to vulnerable households. Charities interested in partnering with Lidl for 2025 are encouraged to register their interest through Neighbourly: https://www.neighbourly.com/goodcause/new.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Research referenced in the release is based on feedback from a sample of Lidl’s 2023 Toy Bank partners, with 544 responses collected by Neighbourly in June 2024.

About Lidl GB

Since establishing itself in Great Britain in 1994, Lidl GB has experienced continuous growth and today has over 34,000 employees, over 960 stores and 14 distribution centres in England, Scotland and Wales.

As part of the Schwarz retail group, Lidl is one of Europe’s leading organisations in the food retail industry. The supermarket, which has around 375,000 employees globally, currently operates over 12,350 stores and more than 225 logistics centres and warehouses in 31 countries.

The supermarket takes pride in providing its customers with the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices throughout Great Britain, from Kirkwall to the Isle of Wight.

Social responsibility and sustainability are at the core of the company's daily operations, with the company placing a strong emphasis on its responsibility for people, society, and the environment. Lidl GB is passionate about working with British producers and sources two thirds of its products from British suppliers.

The Schwarz Group, which operates worldwide as a retail group, generated a revenue of €167.2 billion in the financial year 2023.

For more information about Lidl GB visit corporate.lidl.co.uk

About Neighbourly

Neighbourly is the UK’s only platform that helps businesses make a positive impact in their communities through volunteering, local fundraising, grants and surplus product redistribution - all in one place. 

Neighbourly is a founding UK B Corp, with a network of over 35,000 local charities and good causes.