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Small Acts of Kindness



'No act of kindness, no matter how small,
is ever wasted' - Aesop

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Our journey

On one of the coldest days of 2015, Lynne Misner’s (Small Acts of Kindness Founder and CEO) boiler stopped working and with no immediate fix available, she endured days of cold and misery.

As she wrapped up warm and huddled under blankets, she read how many old people spent every winter feeling as cold as she was now. Mostly living alone, they often could not afford to heat their homes adequately or had the perception that it was frivolous to do so.

Worse, at their age, such cold conditions could cause extra complications, both physical and mental.

What Lynne could also understand was the loneliness and isolation which those people were suffering. She had done voluntary work with older people before and now felt compelled to help, even if it was for a small group. 

That’s when she created the concept of ‘Warm in Winter’ bags, filled with essential keep warm items such as a blanket, warm clothes and hot drinks. Plus information packs which might help the recipients to break out of the cycle of cold and loneliness. 

After sourcing these supplies, friends and volunteers helped her to pack the first 50 bags and, with the help of local care organisations, she identified vulnerable members of the community who would be the first recipients. 

Almost immediately she started to receive heart-warming letters of thanks from people who were genuinely surprised that someone cared enough to give them such a gift. The packs had clearly made a difference to their lives. 

From this germ of an idea, Small Acts of Kindness was born. Around 1000 bags were packed and distributed the following year and that figure nearly trebled a year later. A second scheme was then launched, called Celebrating Christmas, which provided bags of appropriate items such as a Christmas card and beautifully hand wrapped gifts.

While such gift bags are at heart of the charity’s work, it is clear that the core benefit is helping older people to cope with their loneliness and isolation and helping them connect with their communities. We never forget that poverty, deprivation and loneliness are partners.

Lynne gave up her full-time job in 2017 to run Small Acts of Kindness, which was registered as a charity in early 2018. It is managed on a day to day basis by Lynne, supported the Trustees and a wonderful volunteer management team who are all intent on changing people’s lives.  

Award winning

We are honoured that others recognise our achievements and the impact of our work and we are delighted to have received the following prestigious awards

• British Citizen Award for Service to the Community

• Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards Community Champion 

• Age UK Spirit of Age Awards

• Hertfordshire High Sheriff’s Award 2017

• Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award

• Watford Borough Council Audentior Award Finalist

• Best Business Woman Award Finalist Community Champion

• Hertfordshire High Sheriff’s Award 2021

Published: 26th March, 2019

Updated: 11th March, 2021

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Latest

  • Messages of Kindness

    Messages of Kindness

    Together we can help an older person feel less lonely and isolated. Your message and those of your family and friends will be included in our gift bags this winter.

  • Tackling loneliness in Mental Health Awareness Week

    Tackling loneliness in Mental Health Awareness Week

    We are launching our new campaign ‘Help us to end loneliness with messages of kindness’. Messages will be included in our gift bags distributed this winter. Together we can help an older person feel less lonely and isolated.

  • Help us to end loneliness with messages of kindness

    Thank you for your Message of Kindness. With your help, together we can make the winter more tolerable for thousands of lonely and isolated older people who are cold in their home. Just £32 covers the cost of a gift bag containing essential, keep warm items. Thank you for your support.

  • Thank you for your message

    Thank you for your Message of Kindness. Donate today Make a donation and you can help us reach even more lonely and socially isolated older people. Your money will go directly towards items included in our gift bags, which are distributed free of charge.  With your support many more older people will feel loved and a little less lonely - thank you.

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  • Our projects

    Our projects

    “It's easy to feel lonely and forgotten and this lovely gift shows there are people out there who care”

  • Volunteers

    Here at Small Acts of Kindness ‘HQ’ we are looking ahead with positivity to being able, once again, to help some of the most vulnerable older people in our community keep warm and feel less lonely and isolated. Now all we need to make everything happen is your help.

  • Bags of Kindness Packing Days

    Bags of Kindness Packing Days

    We are delighted to invite you to help pack gift bags that will be given to local vulnerable older people across the County.

  • Knit for Community

    Knit for Community

  • Our journey

  • Our team

  • Small Acts of Kindness & Violet's Gift Christmas Gift Wrapping

    Small Acts of Kindness & Violet's Gift Christmas Gift Wrapping

    Violet's Gift and Small Acts of Kindness Christmas gift wrapping

  • Bags of Kindness Information Pack - Packing Days

    Bags of Kindness Information Pack - Packing Days

    We are delighted to invite you to help put together information packs for our Bags of Kindness gift bags that will be given to local vulnerable older people across Hertfordshire.

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    Support our work

  • Community Engagement Manager

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How your donation helps:

£10 buys Christmas gifts for the lonely

£32 fills a complete Warm-in-Winter gift bag

£55 provides 10 older people with warm blankets

£100 provides 10 older people with extra warm clothing

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PO Box 305, Radlett
WD7 0FD
[email protected]
+44 (0)1923 37 27 17

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3rd Floor
207 Regent Street
London W1B 3HH



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Small Acts of Kindness Trust is registered with the Charity Commission as a CIO, registered number 1178546