From £1,000 to £55,000: 40 Years of Sunnyside Gift Day

Since 1984, Gift Day has been an important date in the calendar of Sunnyside Church, Berkhamsted. Initially, its aim was to raise money to support the work of the Church overseas. By 1986, donations were also being made to inner-city areas in the UK.

At the first Gift Day, £1,000 was given by the congregation and distributed to a variety of organisations. This figure has steadily increased and at the 2025 Gift Day, donations made by the congregation totalled over £55,000. 100% of the money raised was given directly to the eleven overseas and eleven UK-based charitable organisations supported by the Church.

These organisations support a wide range of causes. They include those helping people experiencing homelessness, such as DENS, those working with children and young people, including the LOVED Children’s Centre in Mbale, Uganda, and the Swan Youth Project in Berkhamsted and organisations addressing physical hardship in isolated communities, such as Mission Aviation Fellowship.

Each month during services, the congregation hears from one of the Church’s partners about the impact that these gifts and ongoing support have had on their work. They also take time to reflect on and pray for the people and communities they serve, keeping their needs at the heart of what they do. Many members of the congregation are personally involved, giving their time to support these organisations in practical ways.

Locals are warmly invited attend the community fete in George Street on Sunday 28 June 2026 (afternoon), where you can meet some of the local partners and make a donation to Gift Day 2026.

To learn more about Sunnyside Church Gift Day, please visit www.sunnysidechurch.org.uk.