< Previous40 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CHRISTMAS © stock.adobe.com/Pixel-Shot The Christmas gift market turns to conscience and care The Christmas gift market turns to conscience and care LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 41 CHRISTMAS Personalisation is redefining Christmas 2025, with gifts shaped by conscience and care. From recycled notebooks to handmade crafts and tailored tech, consumers are choosing presents that carry meaning as well as value. C hristmas this year is shaping up to be a season of more thoughtful, meaningful giving. The move away from generic products towards items that feel unique and carefully chosen has accelerated in recent years, but this festive season, the shift looks set to become mainstream. Across the high street, online marketplaces, and independent makers’ stalls, the emphasis is firmly on personalisation, whether that is a sustainable gift that reflects shared values, a piece of technology tailored to the individual, or something handmade that carries the unmistakable mark of authenticity. Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in how people approach the holidays. Concerns about waste and climate impact are now shaping the shopping baskets of many households, particularly younger generations who are keen to combine festive generosity with a lighter footprint. Products made from recycled materials, such as notebooks crafted from reclaimed paper or canvas bags designed to replace single-use alternatives, are proving popular choices. Even small items like mini plants or natural scented candles are gaining ground, not only because they are practical or decorative but because they signal a kind of responsibility on the part of the giver. This change is not just a passing fashion but part of a broader cultural shift. Over the last decade, sustainability has moved from niche to necessity, and the world of gifting is now reflecting that reality. By opting for products that last, that can be reused, or that are designed with recycled materials, givers are also challenging the disposable culture that has long surrounded the festive season. The idea of buying something destined for a cupboard or a landfill is becoming less appealing, replaced by gifts that carry a story of responsibility and care. Businesses, too, are responding to this demand, with many retailers launching eco-friendly Christmas ranges 43 ÁPennells Lincoln Newark Rd, South Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 9NT Tel: 01522 880033 Pennells Cleethorpes Humberston Rd, Cleethorpes, N E Lincs, DN36 4RW Tel: 01472 313600 Pennells Sleaford London Rd, Silk Willoughby, Sleaford, NG34 8NY Tel: 01529 304970 CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS | GIFTS | LIGHTING | TOYS & GAMES | FOOD OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK * *excluding New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, & Boxing Day For more information visit: www.pennells.co.uk Explore our magical Christmas displays & see what each of our Gardeners Restaurants has to offer! EXPLORE OUR NEW BUILDING!LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 43 CHRISTMAS and small makers marketing their creations on the basis of their environmental credentials. The Christmas gift, once primarily about surprise or luxury, is now also about conscience. Technology, however, is far from losing its place in the festive market. For many households, it is becoming a central part of what personalisation means. The popularity of devices that can be tailored to the individual is surging, with smartwatches offering health and fitness features, wireless charging pads designed to suit a person’s lifestyle, and personalised smart speakers that can adapt to the user’s voice and preferences. Virtual reality glasses, once considered niche or futuristic, are also finding their way onto wish lists as the technology becomes more accessible. These products are no longer simply gadgets; they represent ways to shape everyday routines in ways that feel unique to the recipient. Alongside physical devices, experience-based gifts are also on the rise. The idea that the best present is not an object but an opportunity has gained ground in recent years, and in 2025 the trend is strengthening further. Spa treatments, relaxation packages and online courses are offering recipients a chance to invest in themselves, whether that is learning a new skill, taking time out to focus on wellbeing, or enjoying a curated experience designed just for them. For many, these kinds of gifts carry more enduring value than something that might fade in novelty after a few weeks. The rise of remote learning and digital platforms has also made it easier to gift experiences that can be enjoyed from home, opening up new possibilities for 45 Á © stock.adobe.com/Prostock-studio BOX OFFICE 0300 300 0035* GROUP SALES/ACCESS 0300 300 0036* grimsbyauditorium.org.uk* *Online and telephone fees apply Restoration levy included Chris Moreno in association with Grimsby Auditorium present ' EA TY ' EAST ' EA TY ' EAST ERH˫IERH˫I Lincolnshire’s Biggest Pantomime! Written & Directed by Chris Moreno Associate Producer Anne MacLachlan ChoreographerThomas Wood Musical DirectorKeithRichards BOX Seymour BottomSSSSmoSeymoSeymoSeymoSeymoBBBurBourBourBourBourBottttttomttomttomttomttom MARTIN DANIELS JORDAN ADAMS Beast/Prince C M ROB McVEIGH Anton the Gypsy King From BBC’s Any Dream Will Do JOHN HEWER Baron Du Parlour ELEANOR HOMER Belle SUE HODGESUESUEHOHODGEDGE Wizadora Crabapple Star of ‘Allo ‘Allo shire’sBiggestPantomime!Lincolnhi’BiPi!Lilhi’BiPi!Lilhi’BiPi!Lil ` LHYZ V M * L SL I YH[P UN g Wed 10 Dec - Tue 30 Dec ’2544 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CHRISTMAS Scan for ticketsLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 45 CHRISTMAS Woolliss & Son Butchers –– AWARD-WINNING LINCOLNSHIRE BUTCHERS –– LOOKING FOR A TOP QUALITY BUTCHERS IN LINCOLNSHIRE? Look no further, we have a proven track record when it comes to providing top quality cuts of meat and home made pastries at a competitive price. We are proud of our locally sourced produce and our 5 star hygiene rating. 29-31 Mercer Row, Louth LN11 9JG. T: 01507 603230 E: orders@woolliss-butchers.co.uk W: woolliss-butchers.co.uk Christmas orders orders now being taken personalised giving that stretch far beyond the traditional Christmas stocking. This dual focus on technology and experiences reflects a change in consumer priorities. People are seeking gifts that connect to everyday life in more tangible ways, whether through health and wellness monitoring, convenience and efficiency, or personal growth. Rather than being impressed by scale or price alone, recipients are valuing the thought behind a gift and the way it aligns with their own interests or aspirations. As with sustainability, this shift suggests a more mature and considered approach to 46 Á © stock.adobe.com/Cok46 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CHRISTMAS 17 Market Place, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9PD Tel: 01507 604029 www.striacroft.co.uk Gold, Silver & Diamond Jewellery Jewellery & Watch Repairs Pre Owned Rolex Watches festive giving, one that emphasises connection and meaning. Counterbalancing the rise of high-tech products is the growing popularity of handmade gifts. In a digital age dominated by uniformity, the charm of something crafted by hand is striking a chord with younger consumers in particular. Cakes, sweets, jams and hand-drawn cards are becoming staples of personalised gifting because they are distinctive, impossible to replicate at scale, and imbued with a sense of authenticity. These gestures are valued not just for what they are but for the effort and time that went into creating them. The act of making something for another person is seen as a mark of sincerity, which resonates strongly with those looking to escape the impersonality of mass-produced goods. This renewed interest in handmade presents also aligns with a cultural emphasis on authenticity. Young people, who often prize individuality and originality, are finding that handmade items reflect their own values better than shop-bought alternatives. Whether it is the rustic appeal of a jar of jam made at home, or the sentiment of a handwritten note, these gifts provide something that technology cannot replicate: the irreplaceable imprint of the human hand. Markets, craft fairs and online platforms are all reporting increased demand for handmade items, suggesting this trend has firmly taken root in consumer habits. Taken together, these developments reveal how Christmas gifting is changing. The “perfect gift” is no longer simply the most expensive or the most fashionable item on the shelf. It is increasingly something that feels personal, whether that is because it reflects shared values of sustainability, because it is a piece of technology or an experience that speaks directly to the recipient’s life, or because it is made by hand with care and authenticity. Retailers are responding, small businesses are thriving, and consumers are finding ways to express themselves through gifts that do more than just fill space under a tree. © stock.adobe.com/IstriLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 CHRISTMAS $FMFCSBUFUIFTFBTPOJOTUZMFBU-JODPMOTBXBSEXJOOJOHSFTUBVSBOUBOEHVFTUIPVTF &WFSZCJUFUFMMTUIFTUPSZ-JODPMOhTSJDIIFSJUBHFUISPVHIMPDBMMZTPVSDFETFBTPOBMQSPEVDF 'SPNGFTUJWFGFBTUTBOEUSJWJBOJHIUT UPJOEVMHFOUUBTUJOHNFOVTBOEQSJWBUFEJOJOH XFWFHPU FWFSZUIJOHZPVOFFEGPSUIFQFSGFDU$ISJTUNBTHFUUPHFUIFS :PVSNFBMOPUPOMZTVQQPSUTMPDBMGBSNFSTBOETVQQMJFST CVUBMTPUIFOFYUHFOFSBUJPOPGDIFGT CBSUFOEFST BOEGSPOUPGIPVTFFYQFSUTBU-JODPMO$PMMFHF #PPLZPVSUBCMFBOENBLFJUB%FDFNCFSUPSFNFNCFS 9MJ4QI'FPJW^ Visit us: 8FhSFMPDBUFECFUXFFO-JODPMO$BTUMF .VTFVNPG-JODPMOTIJSF-JGF 9MJ4QI'FPJW^ 'PSCPPLJOHTFORVJSJFTQMFBTFDPOUBDUVT &NBJMUIFPMECBLFSZFORVJSJFT!MJODPMODPMMFHFBDVL 5FMFQIPOF]XXXUIFPMECBLFSZDPVL 'ZWYTS7I1NSHTQS131' 'ZWYTS7I1N1NSHTQS131' Lincoln's Local Artisan Restaurant & Guesthouse 8(&3 -*7*+47 (-7.892&8 (-**7 DEC 2025- 4 ND 2 JAN 2026 TH4 14 th Nov 4pm – 8:30pm LIGHT SWITCH ON AT 7PM SPONSORED yȲ W I T H A N A B BA Tribut eb an d48 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CARING A s autumn gives way to winter, the UK’s older population faces more than just colder nights. For many, this time of year brings a creeping shadow of isolation. With fewer daylight hours, icy paths and rising costs, the risk of loneliness intensifies just as people most need connection. In towns, villages and city flats alike, community initiatives are striving to keep older adults warm not only in body but in spirit. Loneliness among older people is a persistent issue, but winter magnifies it. Over two million people aged 75 and older in England live alone, and more than one million say they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. At any given time, around seven per cent of those aged 65 and above report feeling lonely often or always. In a recent survey of adults between 50 and 80, a third admitted they had felt isolated over the past year, and another third said they had infrequent contact with people outside their home, meaning once a week or less. These numbers show that even before winter sets in, many older people are already on the fringes of social contact, and when the season shifts, the barriers mount. Colder weather deters mobility. Slippery pavements and fears of falls make stepping outside a risk. The contrast between the festive imagery of social gatherings and the quiet interior of someone’s home can deepen the emotional gap. For those who have lost spouses or long-time friends, December and January are a stark reminder of absence. Winter also brings financial and health burdens that feed directly into isolation. Nearly half of people aged over 60 worry about their ability to heat their home, and more than 40 per cent have admitted cutting back on heating or energy use to save money. Around 3.4 million older people say their homes are too cold most or all of the time, and almost two million older households are projected to be living in fuel poverty. These pressures intersect with health risks. Cold homes exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and people with restricted mobility may spend even less time outdoors. Fuel poverty has been linked with worsening mental health and the emergence of additional care needs over time. When The fight against winter loneliness for older people As daylight fades and cold weather sets in, thousands of older people across the UK face heightened risks of isolation. Community groups, volunteers and local initiatives are working to ensure that companionship, warmth and support remain within reach. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 heating is limited, social visits postponed or hosting avoided because of energy concerns, the connections that sustain emotional wellbeing become casualties. Food budgets are also squeezed. More than three million older people have cut back on groceries to make ends meet, further isolating themselves if meal sharing or communal dining once provided comfort. Against these overlapping challenges, community responses have become lifelines. Across the UK, councils, charities and neighbourhood groups are extending outreach in practical and creative ways. Warm hubs and pop-up gatherings in libraries, halls or churches now serve as safe, accessible places to find both warmth and conversation. These spaces often host coffee mornings, quizzes or gentle activities, and in some cases provide transport to help older adults who cannot travel independently. Meal deliveries are increasingly paired with a human touch. Volunteers drop off food but also stay to talk, recognising that a brief chat can matter as much as the hot dish itself. Befriending services continue to grow, providing regular telephone calls or home visits to people living alone. These services are not simply about company. A volunteer who checks in each week can provide reassurance, flag health or welfare issues early, and give someone a reliable point of contact when other networks have faded. Neighbourhood buddy schemes are also proving effective. Volunteers are matched with older people for routine check-ins, whether through a phone call, a short shopping trip or even a winter walk when conditions allow. In rural areas where distance is a problem, community minibus projects and volunteer drivers provide lifts to social events. This small infrastructure ensures that transport is not a barrier to staying connected. Alongside face-to-face activity, some organisations are helping older people to engage digitally. Training sessions on how to use smartphones, tablets and video calls give people the tools to stay in touch with family and friends from the safety of their homes. During winter, when days are shorter and weather can confine people indoors, this kind of digital support has become a vital bridge against isolation. © stock.adobe.com/De Visu 50 ÁNext >