Readers have raised nearly half a million pounds for The Telegraph’s Christmas Charity Appeal 2024

Generous readers have raised over £486,000 for The Telegraph’s Christmas Charity Appeal 2024. The Appeal launched on November 4 2024 and remained open until January 31 2025.

In December 2024, during the charity phone-in day, Telegraph readers raised more than £70,000 in a single day. TV personality Anneka Rice and a host of Telegraph writers, including columnists Allison Pearson and Charles Moore, as well as cartoonist Matt, took hundreds of calls over the eight hours the lines were open. Readers from across the UK contributed to the total, including one individual donation of £4,000.

This year The Telegraph supported four charities: the Army Benevolent Fund, which provide funds and grants to veterans, including those who’ve faced life-changing injuries on the front line, Army families who have lost loved ones, and care homes for older veterans; The Teenage Cancer Trust, which transforms the experience of cancer care for young people and Alzheimer’s Research UK, which offers support to people experiencing the disease and their families, highlights preventative measures, and helps fund research for a cure. Their corporate partner, Chaucer, also generously agreed to match funds raised by Telegraph readers up to £25,000. 

Before the launch of the appeal, Telegraph journalist David Knowles, the co-presenter of award-winning podcast Ukraine: The Latest, unexpectedly passed away. In the weeks before his death, David had nominated Humanity & Inclusion for this year’s appeal in recognition of its work in Ukraine and we were pleased to also be able to support it in his honour.

Throughout the Christmas period The Telegraph shared stories of those who have been helped and supported by each charity.

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The Telegraph’s annual Christmas Charity Appeal started in its current format in 1986 and has raised over £30 million for charities since its launch.

Telegraph readers have a long history of fundraising including in 1915 for a monument for nurse Edith Cavell, which can be found outside St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, just off Trafalgar Square, as well as setting up the Cavell Nurses’ Trust to help nurses affected by their war work. In 1916, during the First World War, Telegraph readers’ donations helped supply three million rations of plum pudding for British soldiers on Christmas Day.