One Stop store manager, Leanne, from Brighton & Hove, has been recognised for her dedication and efforts in her community by winning an award for Excellence in the Charity and Voluntary Sector 2025, from the Parent Carers’ Council along with a British Citizen Award.
The store manager, who has worked for One Stop for 11 years, won the Parent Carers’ Council award this month, following a Santa’s Grotto event she held at The Salvation Army at Sackville Road, Hove for 64 SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) children and families between 8th – 12th December 2025.
“I wanted to make sure children and adults with SEND could experience the magic of Christmas in a way that felt calm, safe and joyful. Many of them hold on to the magic of Father Christmas throughout their lives
Children and young adults with additional needs still need to reach the same destination as everyone else — they just take a different path to get there, so creating an environment where they can enjoy Christmas in their own way, at their own pace, is what makes events like this so special,” explained, Leanne.
To ensure every child felt comfortable, Leanne also created a make-shift sensory tent for those who felt overwhelmed. The quiet space was equipped with touch lamps, sequin pillows and soft lighting, offering a calming retreat and a moment to reset.
The Sussex-based store manager and her team at Neville Road raised £648 to fund the activities, which included decorating Christmas ornaments, icing gingerbread men, colouring in festive scenes and indulging in plenty of sweet treats.
The money was raised through a community book sale, with additional support from local customers and residents who donated food and supplies. Once word spread, the community united together to support Leanne, ensuring the event was as magical as possible for those attending.
The Salvation Army kindly supported the initiative by allowing Leanne to use their hall facilities free of charge, helping to ease costs.
“The response from our community was overwhelming. People donated books, food and their time — all because they wanted to make Christmas a little brighter for these incredible children and young adults. It showed just how powerful a local community can be when everyone comes together.”
The event ran across 10 sessions, with Santa’s Grotto open from 4–5pm and 5–6pm over the week in December. Each child received a specially chosen gift worth around £10, selected based on what they asked Santa for. Parents contributed £5 towards the gift, with the remaining cost covered by donations from the book sale.
Although the event had a focus on making the day magical for those attending, Leanne also managed to raise over £500 for Young Lives vs Cancer – a charity that supports young cancer patients and their families. The cancer charity is one of One Stop’s national charity partners, through sales of reindeer food and Santa keys.
Three days after winning the Parent Carers’ Council award, Leanne, received a British Citizen Award for the incredible job she does to support her Brighton & Hove community.
One Stop’s Community & Partners Manager, Jack Taylor commented: “Leanne’s commitment to her community is incredible and both awards are a reflection of that.
“Creating a calm, magical experience for SEND children and their families is no small task, yet she delivered it with care and incredible attention to detail. She brought the local community together to make it happen which made a huge impact — we couldn’t be prouder of her!”
Please find attached photos of the Santa’s Grotto event and Leanne with her award.
Head over to One Stop’s Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to read more about the amazing work their colleagues to in the community.
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