CRAWLEY — A charity is using a live music event to raise money for Christmas dinners for families who are struggling with the cost of the festive season. The Greenaway Foundation says its work provides households in Kent, Sussex and Surrey with ingredients for a two-course Christmas meal, alongside other festive support.
Greenaway Live takes place at Crawley Rugby Club from 15:00 BST on Saturday, with ticket sales helping to fund the charity’s work. Founder Darren Greenaway said demand for the project has grown quickly and that this year the organisation needs to raise about £200,000 to keep pace.
He said the event is now in its second year, after the first Greenaway Live was held in 2025.
How the charity’s Christmas support works
The foundation’s festive scheme is aimed at families facing financial pressure in the run-up to Christmas. It supplies ingredients for a two-course dinner so parents can put food on the table without bearing the full cost themselves.
The charity also runs a separate seasonal appeal for children from low-income families. As part of that work, children can make a “make a wish for a Christmas present”, which the organisation then delivers on Christmas Eve.
Greenaway said that for some families the deliveries can be emotional, with parents sometimes breaking down in tears when the charity arrives with food and gifts.
The foundation expects to support more than 1,000 families in 2026, underlining how much the project has expanded since it began.
Second Greenaway Live aims to build on first year
Saturday’s concert is only the second Greenaway Live, but the charity says interest has already picked up. The event will also be streamed on the foundation’s social media, widening its reach beyond those attending in person at Crawley Rugby Club.
Greenaway told the BBC he was trying to organise the first event while on his honeymoon, but the charity decided to try again after seeing more traction this time around. He said planning for next year has already begun.
He described the line-up as generous, saying all of the live acts are giving their time for free. He compared the event to a small-scale Live Aid, reflecting the charity’s aim of using music to generate support for its Christmas work.
What the money will be used for this winter
The Greenaway Foundation says the funds raised will go directly towards helping families across Kent, Sussex and Surrey with Christmas food and gifts. The charity’s focus is on practical support at a time when household budgets are often stretched by higher seasonal spending.
Its work combines meal ingredients with present delivery, giving families help with both the table and the tree. The organisation says its aim is to make sure children and parents have a better Christmas even when money is tight.
With the event taking place in Crawley and being shared online, the foundation is hoping to reach both local supporters and a wider audience. The charity says that extra backing is essential if it is to meet rising demand for its festive project this year.
The latest UK news and stories from Bailey Universe.
