The Big Give
One donation, twice the impact!
Big Give Christmas Challenge 2026
Tuesday 1st December 12pm - Tuesday 8th December 12pm
The Big Give Christmas Challenge is an annual match-funding campaign that gives supporters the chance to make double the difference with their donations. During the campaign week, every eligible donation made to our appeal is doubled through a combination of pledged funding and Champion funding, helping us to raise vital funds to support better access to life-changing adventures.
Taking part in the Christmas Challenge gives us the opportunity to maximise the impact of every donation. This important fundraising initiative enables us to reach more people and continue delivering exciting activity breaks for those who benefit from them most.
Whether you’re a first-time donor, a long-standing supporter or interested in becoming a pledger, your involvement plays a crucial role in helping us achieve our fundraising goals. Together, we can make an even greater impact for people with disabilities and ensure more people have better access to activities that build lasting confidence and independence.
What is the Big Give Christmas Challenge?
Annual fundraising appeal
Supports people with disabilities
Donations are doubled
Our target is £80,000
For one week only
Invest in a better Calvert
How the Big Give Christmas Challenge works
Step 1
The first step towards our Big Give Christmas Challenge is setting our campaign goals and pinpointing what we want to raise funds for. In 2026, we’re fundraising for investment in the core elements that make Calvert unique – our activity sessions.
At this stage the team are working hard to secure pledges from generous supporters to kickstart our Big Give appeal.
Are you interested in pledging?
Step 2
The Big Give Christmas Challenge will start at 12pm on Tuesday 1st December until Tuesday 8th December at 12pm.
During this time, we’ll receive pledges and donations through our unique Big Give appeal link.
In 2026, we’ll kick off our fundraising appeal with an exciting 24-hour challenge. We’ll be inviting supporters to collectively climb as many Mount Everests as possible by ascending Dodd Fell continuously for the first 24 hours of the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
If you’d like to get involved with ‘It’s A Doddle‘, get in touch with our fundraising team.
Step 3
Every single donation made during the Big Give Christmas Challenge is doubled by our Champion funders.
This means double the impact improving the incredible experiences we provide for people with disabilities and their tribes.
How you can get involved
There are four ways you can support our Big Give Christmas Challenge.
It's A Doddle
We’re launching the Big Give Christmas Challenge in 2026 with an epic 24-hour Everesting quest.
How many Everests can we climb collectively in 24 hours by continuously ascending Dodd Fell behind Calvert Lakes?
Are you up to the challenge?! We’re looking for participants, sponsors and supporters!
Previous Big Give Challenges
This will be our fourth year taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Celebrating our 50th anniversary, we hope this year’s challenge will be bigger and better than ever before! The generous support of our corporate partners, donors, guests, volunteers and local community is what makes this fundraising appeal so exciting.
Why we're taking part
Did you know … it costs approximately £500 to run an activity session for 12 participants!
The aim of our Big Give appeal this year, in our 50th year, is to raise vital funds that ensure we can continue to run inclusive activities for the next 50 years.
From our specialist residential centre outside Keswick, we offer individuals, families, charity and school groups the chance to experience everything the Lake District has to offer in a safe and supportive way. Our skilled and highly trained instructors take our clients sailing, canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling and horse riding. Take a spin in a pony trap, go walking or wheeled walking in the fells, learn bushcraft skills, or try our high ropes adventure course or fully accessible zip wire!
The donations we raise will go towards funding 160 inclusive activity sessions where guests can experience success whatever their ability.
Michelle
“It’s hard to explain to others but I will give it a try. Our daughter … has severe and profound physical and learning difficulties, and the general public and many workers, see her chair or lack of communication first and foremost. However, the staff at Calvert look at her as a dare devil teenager and see the person not the disability and that is so refreshing.”
Janet
BIG GIVE FAQs
When is the Big Give Christmas Challenge?
The Big Give Christmas Challenge takes place annually during the first week of December.
In 2026, it starts at 12pm on Tuesday 1st December and finished on Tuesday 8th December.
What is the Big Give Christmas Challenge?
The Big Give Christmas Challenge is the UK’s biggest match funding appeal that connects charities with Champion funders. Every eligible donation made by pledgers and supporters during the fundraising appeal is doubled.
Why should I donate to Calvert?
The Lake District Calvert Trust provides exciting outdoor adventures for people with disabilities, their friends, families, peers and carers. We build confidence through accessible challenge activities that people of all abilities can participate in. Our guests experience achievements that create lasting, positive change in their everyday lives.
How can I get involved?
There are four main ways to support our Big Give appeal – pledging, donating, fundraising for us and taking part in our launch challenge.
Pledge your support by agreeing to donate a fixed lump sum during the Big Give Christmas Challenge week.
Donate during the first week in December.
Organise your own fundraising events for Calvert. Every pound raised is doubled during the Big Give week with double the impact.
Sign up to sponsor or take part in our 24-hour challenge, It’s A Doddle.
Get in touch with our fundraising team to find out more.
In summary ...
Donors make funding pledges
Additional Champion funding is unlocked
Supporters donate during campaign week
Every eligible donation is doubled!
