Table 1.

Overarching themes and sub‐themes

Overarching themes	Sub‐themes
Reasons for participants attending the event	Stress, obligation, hard work and monotony Giving, doing and filling a gap Limited family, lack of friends and losses Being alone and lonely, feeling excluded
A different Christmas day: the impact on volunteers and guests	Meaning, a special day and memories of Christmas Reciprocity, a multi‐layered experience A different Christmas, a catalyst for change Social belonging Intergenerational relationships, feeling at home and valued
Learning, planning and moving forwards	Ongoing contact, building relationships and confidence Developing supportive networks Challenges and opportunities for future engagement Sustainability