Civic Christmas Carol Service at St John’s Church, Loughton – see poster for details.
Civic Christmas Carol Service – Dec 2025
Essex Wellbeing Service – see below
Win a Nintendo Switch 2 bundle
Win a Nintendo Switch 2 bundle (or cash alternative) plus £500 to your local good cause in this month’s super draw with the Epping Forest Community Lottery.
This mega gaming bundle contains everything you need to enjoy amazing games on the new Nintendo Switch 2 – play on the go, or connect to your new 50″ 4k UHD smart TV and play with friends and family! We’re also throwing in an all-in-one carry case, and a 1-year subscription to Nintendo Online.
You have until Saturday 29 November for your chance to win this great prize. You will also be helping raise money for local good causes as at least 60% from each ticket sold goes to support community projects in the Epping Forest district.
Tickets cost £1 each, and winners could scoop up to £25,000. Draws will take place every Saturday at 8pm. The lucky winners will be informed by email and will have the money transferred automatically into their bank account.
How to purchase a ticket:
- Visit the Epping Forest Community Lottery (EFCL) website
- Select Play the lottery button
- Choose a good cause to support – you can search for good cause in the search bar or scroll through the list
- Once you’ve picked your good cause, click buy tickets and follow the checkout process
Alternatively, if you do not have internet access, call EFCL on 01992 363016.
Christmas Giving Campaign
The campaign aims to ensure that no child, living in the district, goes without receiving a Christmas present. Our 2024 campaign provided Christmas presents to over 300 local children.
Gifts will be provided for identified children, living in care, temporary accommodation, and in personal circumstances or conditions that might deny them the kindness that other children experience this time of year.
The gifts are distributed to children, aged between 2 and 17, who had been referred by local schools and frontline children and family service providers, based in the district.
The campaign is supported by:
- Epping Forest District Council
- Qualis
- Essex Police
- Community Safety Partnership Epping Forest District
- Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust
- Jenna Wilkins Foundation
- Safer Places
Ways to give a gift
Local residents and businesses can donate a gift in the following ways:
Donate online
Buy a gift for us to give
Deliver an unwrapped gift to the reception desk at Epping Forest District Council Civic Offices, 323 High Street, Epping, CM16 4BZ before Thursday 11 December.
Please label your gift with the gender and approx. age of the child you wish to receive your gift. As a guideline we are looking for presents aged between 2-17 years.
Essex Libraries’ Santa Bus is back!
Essex Libraries’ Santa Bus is returning this festive season, in partnership with the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service.
Pop along and meet Santa in their Mobile Library bus this Christmas!
https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/news/the-santa-bus-is-back/
Find out when Santa will be in your area and get booking information.
The What’s On in Epping Forest brochure is now available, filled with activities, events and exhibitions for November 2025 to April 2026.
The brochure contains has details of fun activities, events, exhibitions and workshops from the Community Development and Wellbeing (CDW) team at Epping Forest District Council.
There’s something for everyone, from meeting new people and learning a new skill at Let’s Get Together’ to keeping active with walking football. The West Essex Inclusion Project autumn programme returns with term time and holiday activities. And Countrycare’s Christmas treasure hunt promises to be a festive morning for all the family.
Alongside the activity programme, the brochure’s full of extras such as volunteering opportunities and award schemes for young people.
Have a look and see what’s on
You can pick up a hard copy from:
- Epping Forest District Council Civic Offices, 323 High Street, Epping, CM16 4BZ
- Epping Forest district libraries and leisure centres
Residents living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment can book their place on our Christmas memory train due to depart on Wednesday 3 December 2025.
The Christmas memory train runs on the Epping Ongar Railway departing and returning to North Weald station. Tickets are free for Epping Forest district residents and a friend, family member or carer.
- Meet at North Weald station on the Epping Ongar Railway at 10.30am (Open map in Google maps)
- Train departs North Weald station at 11am
- Travel from North Weald station to Ongar station enjoying the forest views along the way
- Stop at Ongar station to explore the station, visit the museum, learn about the Epping Ongar Railway and meet Father Christmas
- Travel from Ongar station to North Weald station enjoying the views and a light lunch
- Train returns to North Weald station at 1pm for a mulled drink and mince pie
Prebook your tickets now
Tickets are free for Epping Forest district residents with dementia or mild cognitive impairment plus a friend, family member or carer. All attendees must be accompanied by a carer or companion. Parking and toilet facilities are available at both stations and on the train.
- Book your place on the free Christmas memory train
- Call 01992 564226 on Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm
If you have any questions call Karen Murray on 07789 372196 or email kmurray@eppingforestdc.gov.uk