The Big Give 2026

The Big Give is the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign. For one week only between midday on 1st December until midday on 8th December, every donation made to our appeal will be doubled, thanks to match funding. This means your gift will go twice as far to help us reach everyone who needs care at the end of their lives. 

Why is Hospice UK taking part? 

Everyone deserves the best possible care at the end of their lives. Right now, people in financial hardship or living in rural areas struggle to access the care they need. With your help, we can make sure everyone gets the right care when they need it most, regardless of their financial status or where they live. 

When is the campaign running? 

The Big Give Christmas Challenge runs from midday on 1st December until midday on 8th December. Donations must be made during this period to qualify for match funding. 

How does match funding work? 

During the campaign, every pound you donate will be matched by a special fund. So, if you give £50, Hospice UK receives £100 to support our work. Double the donation, double the difference. 

How long are match funds reserved when making a donation? 

Match funds are reserved for 30 minutes. You need to complete your donation within this time for it to be matched. If the time expires, a pop-up will notify you that you can either: 

• Continue with an unmatched donation, or
• Start again to make a matched donation (please note, we cannot guarantee match funds will still be available if they restart). 

If you are donating on the last day of the campaign, we advise leaving at least a couple of hours as a buffer in case you experience any issues completing your donation. 

What will my donation support? 

Your donation will help Hospice UK: 

• Highlight hidden barriers: We will shine a light on the obstacles that prevent people from accessing the hospice care they need, especially those facing financial hardship or living in remote areas.
• Pioneer new solutions: Through 10 innovative hospice pilot projects, we’ll discover new ways to make hospice care easier to access, directly addressing the financial burdens people face.
• Share best practice and build resources: We’ll share what works and create practical resources to help hospices connect with and serve their most vulnerable communities.
• Collect and use data for change: By capturing local data and evidence, we’ll expose inequities in care and advocate for policy recommendations, urging decision makers to remove financial barriers and improve access for all.
• Support professionals and communities: We’ll connect hospice professionals through national conferences, events, and webinars focused on supporting those facing socioeconomic disadvantage 

Your support enables us to reach disadvantaged communities, champion change, and ensure everyone gets the right care when they need it most. 

Who benefits from this campaign? 

Hospice UK supports over 200 member hospices, caring for around 310,000 children and adults living with long-term illnesses or approaching the end of their lives each year. Your support helps us reach even more people in need, wherever they live and whatever their finances. 

How can I donate? 

You can donate directly to our Big Give campaign page during the campaign week. Just follow our campaign link and see your donation doubled.
 
Big Give can only accept donations via debit card, credit card or Apple or Google Pay, BACS, and Pay by Bank. They cannot match fund donations on other websites or donations made offline, eg. cheques, CAF payments, etc. 

For donations of £500 or more, you can also choose to use the BACS donation option (please set this up as soon as possible as BACS transfers can sometimes take a few days to reach Big Give. They will not match any BACS transfers that reach them after the end of the campaign). Alternatively you can still use a card to make a donation. 

Is donating secure? 

Yes. The Big Give platform uses secure payment systems to protect your details. 

Can I add Gift Aid? 

If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can add Gift Aid when donating through the Big Give platform, increasing the value of your gift even further. 

What happens if we exceed our target? 

If we raise more than our target, we’ll be able to extend our impact even further, helping more people receive high-quality hospice care. If we raise less, we’ll scale our plans accordingly, but every donation makes a difference. 

Does Big Give charge a fee on my donation to Hospice UK? 

Yes, Big Give applies a small processing fee to cover the cost of handling donations. The fee depends on the payment method: 

• UK debit/credit cards (except Amex): 1.5% of the donation + 20p
• American Express or international cards: 3.2% of the donation + 20p
• Pay by Bank or BACS transfer: Same as UK debit card fees 

I’m having trouble donating—what should I do? 

If you are having issues donating, try refreshing the Big Give page or accessing the campaign through a private or different browser. If the issues remain unresolved, please send a screenshot of the problem you’re experiencing, along with the browser, version, and device type you’re using to hello@biggive.org  

Still have questions? 

Please email us at fundraising@hospiceuk.org or call 020 7520 8243. We’d love to help!