Support the campaign
Help keep a chair free
Make a donation
DonateDonations are handled securely by GoFundMe. Give any amount, once or as often as you like. The link opens in a new tab.
- Goes directly to Empty Chairs
- We are a non-profit company, not a registered charity, so we cannot claim Gift Aid
- How we use money sets out where it goes
Would rather not use GoFundMe? Email us and we will sort it out personally.
Every Empty Chairs table is free to join and run by a volunteer. Donations pay for the things that make that possible, so that wherever someone lives, there's a table they can sit down at.
- Help keep Empty Chairs free for everyone
- Give whatever you like, whenever you like
- Support the people, tools and resources behind every table
Empty Chairs Ltd · Non-profit company limited by guarantee · Company no. 17342703
Why your support matters
Loneliness can happen to anyone, at any age. Often the hardest part is having somewhere to go. Empty Chairs gives people exactly that: a table, a friendly face in orange, and no pressure to stay any longer than they want.
Hosts give their time for free. Your donation covers what they shouldn't have to.
What donations pay for
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Supporting our volunteer hosts
Helping provide hosts with the guidance, training, resources and visible materials they need to run Empty Chairs safely and confidently in their communities.
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Keeping Empty Chairs running
Covering the essential systems behind the movement - from our website and event listings to the technology and administration needed to support events happening across the UK and beyond.
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Reaching more communities
Helping us introduce Empty Chairs to places where it does not yet exist, recruit new volunteer hosts and make sure more people know there is somewhere they can turn up and be around others.
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Building Empty Chairs for the future
Investing in the people, safeguarding and infrastructure needed to grow Empty Chairs responsibly while keeping every event free to attend.
What's happened so far
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2,215+
Events recorded
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548
Locations represented
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775
Venues used
Figures correct to 19 September 2026. More on our impact
Road to 650
An Empty Chairs event in every UK constituency by 26 January 2027
345 of 650 constituencies so far
Donations help get tables into the places that don't have one yet. See the map
Other ways to help
Money isn't the only way to support Empty Chairs. These matter just as much.
- Fill a chairCome along to a table near you. That's the whole point.
- Host a tableWear orange, book a table, leave some chairs empty.
- Suggest a venueKnow a pub or café that would welcome a table? Tell us.
- Partner with usBusinesses, universities, clubs and campaigns.
- Visit the shopWear the orange and spread the word.
- Share the campaign Send it to someone who might need it.
Businesses, trusts and larger gifts
If you're thinking about a bigger gift, sponsorship, match funding or grant support, we'd love to talk. We'll tell you exactly where the money would go.
Questions
Is Empty Chairs a charity?
Not at the moment. Empty Chairs is a non-profit company limited by guarantee (company no. 17342703), not a registered charity. It exists to pursue its purpose, not to make a profit for anyone.
Because we're not a registered charity, donations aren't eligible for Gift Aid and aren't tax-deductible. Read how Empty Chairs is run.
Where does my money go?
Into running and growing Empty Chairs: supporting hosts, reaching new towns and venues, the Road to 650, and the essentials like insurance and this website.
How we use money explains where our money comes from and what we spend it on.
Is it secure?
Yes. Donations are handled by GoFundMe, one of the largest fundraising platforms in the world. You pay on GoFundMe's own secure page, and your card details never reach our website.
How do I change or cancel a monthly donation?
Donations through GoFundMe are one-off, so there is nothing to cancel. If you have set up a recurring donation there, you can change or stop it from your GoFundMe account, or email us and we'll help.
Will I get a receipt?
Yes. GoFundMe emails a confirmation to the address you give when you donate. If you need anything else for your records, email us.
Can my company match or sponsor?
We'd love that. Email us or see our partnership options.
Help the next table happen
Whatever you can give, thank you. And if you'd rather give your time, the best thing you can do is come along.