Christmas is a time for connection – a moment to come together and celebrate the season with family, friends and colleagues. At HALO, supporting our community is a commitment we honour all year round. But the festive season brings a special opportunity to shine a light on those who inspire, uplift and strengthen Kilmarnock. This year, our Founder and Executive Chair, Dr Marie Macklin CBE, has chosen to support three remarkable local organisations spanning sport, faith and recovery.

Dean Thistle Football Club, St Joseph’s Church and EACHa have been selected as this year’s HALO Community Beneficiaries, each receiving a donation to help them continue their incredible work throughout the year.

Marie said: “Christmas is a time for giving, for compassion, and for investing in the people who make our communities stronger. These organisations represent the very best of Kilmarnock –  dedication, resilience and heart. We’re proud to support them this Christmas, and I very much look forward to visiting them all very soon.”

You can hear from Mark, Steph and Fr Stephen McGrattan, who share how this support will help them make an even greater impact in the months ahead.

Fr. Stephen McGrattan | St. Jospeh’s Church | https://rckilmarnock.org.uk/our-parishes/st-josephs/ |Kilmarnock – “The donation from HALO will be used this Christmas to provide a festive meal for the senior citizens of St Joseph’s parish.  Many of those attending live alone and will benefit from the company at Christmas time.  Additionally, part of the donation will be used to provide a festive buffet for the users of the Food Bank and extra foodstuff in their bags for Christmas.

The EV Bus which HALO has made available this year for St Joseph’s Church to use has enabled members of our parish community and friends to share in a number of days out to places of interest locally.  Many of the participants of these trips live alone and benefit from the company.  Additionally, the EV Bus is used to bring people with mobility or transport issues to join the community at Church on a Sunday and share a cup of tea in the hall afterwards.  The bus has also been used to transport groups of young people to bring them together for pilgrimages and other youth gatherings and trips.  We look forward to finding other uses for the EV Bus with the goal of building community and eliminating transport/mobility barriers.

Steph McCutcheon |East Ayrshire Churches Homelessness Action (EACHa)  | www.eacha.org.uk | Kilmarnock  – “EACHa would like to express our sincere thanks for the generous donation supporting our Christmas Programme 2025. This funding will be used entirely to spread warmth and kindness over the festive period by providing: Christmas meals and hampers for individuals and families who would otherwise go without. A small 24-hour emergency food packs for those in crisis over the holiday period, ensuring no one is left hungry when other services are closed and gift tokens and wellbeing parcels for our volunteers, recognising their tireless contribution throughout the year and ensuring they, too, feel valued and supported this Christmas.

The donation allows us to reach people at one of the hardest times of year — offering not just food, but compassion, dignity, and a reminder that our community cares.

Thank you for helping us make Christmas brighter for so many across East Ayrshire.”

Mark | Dean Thistle Football Club | www.facebook.com/DeanThistleFC?_rdr| Kilmarnock – “The support provided will directly empower our young squad by providing branded hoodies that foster team identity and pride, while also helping fund towards our football trip to Blackpool –  a milestone experience that builds resilience, camaraderie, and ambition. It’s more than financial support; it’s a legacy gesture that inspires belief in every player and strengthens our grassroots movement within our community and shows the level of commitment that HALO and Marie have shown towards our 2016’s team. Thank you so much”.

Marie will be visiting all three across the season to see first hand the impact of the donations.

#PoweringTheCommunity this Christmas