A young person is standing in a drive way. They have set up a cake selling booth on different tables. The young person is wearing a green Macmillan t-shirt. They are cutting a slice of cake. The tables have different cakes and other treats for sale.

How to host a Coffee Morning

Whether you're hosting at home, at work, at school, or in your local community, we have all the tips and tricks to get you started.
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Your Coffee Morning, Your Way

Every Coffee Morning has the power to raise vital funds for people living with cancer. Whether it's with your pals in the park, an open house with your neighbours, or a great gathering at work, we have everything you need to help make your event a success.
A woman with short hair wearing a pink chequered top is standing in a kitchen near a counter and holding an electric mixer. Next to hear is a man sitting in a wheel chair and wearing a green Macmillan top. He is passing the woman a glass container. They appear to be preparing ingredients for baking.A woman with short hair wearing a pink chequered top is standing in a kitchen near a counter and holding an electric mixer. Next to hear is a man sitting in a wheel chair and wearing a green Macmillan top. He is passing the woman a glass container. They appear to be preparing ingredients for baking.
Host at home
A person in a blue shirt and short, brown beard is holding a large white coffee cup in their hand. They are speaking to a person with long blonde hair wearing a white shirt. The person in the white shirt is holding a plate with food on it. They appear to be inside.A person in a blue shirt and short, brown beard is holding a large white coffee cup in their hand. They are speaking to a person with long blonde hair wearing a white shirt. The person in the white shirt is holding a plate with food on it. They appear to be inside.
Host at work
People at a Coffee Morning hosted on a garden.People at a Coffee Morning hosted on a garden.
Host in your community
Two young people in school uniforms are holding cupcakes. The person on the left is biting into the cupcake. They appear to be in a school. Two young people in school uniforms are holding cupcakes. The person on the left is biting into the cupcake. They appear to be in a school.
Host at school

Host your Coffee Morning in 5 easy steps

It can be tricky to know where to start, so we've got a step-by-step guide to help you.
Three people are standing together and talking in a kitchen at home. The person on the left is wearing a blue patterned top. The person in the middle is wearing a white and yellow dress and a pink headdress. the person on the right is wearing a green top. The person on the left and right are holding plates with food on them.

1. Sign up as a host

First of all, sign up to receive your fundraising kit. Choose from 1 of the 2 kit options, and we'll send you everything you need for your event.

When you fill in our registration form, you'll need to choose a date. Don't worry if you're not sure when you'll be hosting yet, you can change the date later.

You can also choose where you will host your event. It doesn't have to be exact - just choose if you're hosting from home, work, school or with a local community group. This is so we can send you helpful information and tips for your event.

A person is sitting down and leaning on a table. They have a raffle ticket book and a pen in their hands. A person is leaning over and speaking to them. The table has a white table cloth on it and a raffle basket with different goods in it like wine and crisps.

2. Plan your event

Now it's time to spread the word about your Coffee Morning, and get planning!

Your online fundraising page will be set up when you register. You can personalise it with a photo, information about why you're hosting and a fundraising target. You can also share the page with people who can't attend but want to donate.

Then you can start thinking about what to serve at your event. Great food is the highlight of any Coffee Morning. You can check out our recipes for inspiration!

Three dogs are sitting behind a wood table. They are all wearing Macmillan branded bandanas. The table has orange coffee mugs on it. There is also a dog shaped biscuit on a small plate on the table.

3. Unleash your creativity

As well as helping show off your hosting skills, Coffee Morning is a great occasion to hold an event with a twist. Past Coffee Mornings have included kitchen discos, chai afternoons, a drag show cocktail evening, and dog friendly events.

Why not have fundraising games on the day? You could host a quiz or ask people to guess the amount of coffee beans in a jar. We've included a couple of games in your fundraising kit to get you started.

You can use our downloadable resources to help plan your event. It includes DIY bunting, printable posters and signs, and invitations.

Two people are standing and smiling at the camera whilst clinking their white coffee cups together. The person on the left has long blonde hair and is wearing a white top and orange trousers. The person on the right has short hair and is wearing a black vest and blue jeans. Behind them is a balloon arch shaped like the letter M.

4. The big day

After all your planning, it's time to enjoy your event!

You can decorate your space with materials from your kit, or if you want to go big, you can buy a range of special products form the Coffee Morning shop.

Do remember to have change for people who want to donate with cash. You can also ask for donations to your fundraising page or via a QR code. Take and share pictures for everyone to see, including in our Coffee Morning Facebook group.

Every penny you raise helps Macmillan to do whatever it takes for people living with cancer.

A person with long dark hair is laughing. They are holding a treat in one hand and a plate with a fork in the other. Behind them is another person with short hair who is also laughing and holding food and a plate. They appear to be inside.

5. Donate and celebrate

You've done it! Now it's time to celebrate your success by thanking your guests and paying in your donations.

After your event, we'll send you a thank you certificate to show how much you've raised, and the incredible impact it will have on people living with cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What date is Macmillan's Coffee Morning this year?
    The official date for Coffee Morning 2024 is Friday 27 September, but you can host your event whenever suits you best.
  • Can I host a Coffee Morning in another country?

    Of course! Please note we can’t send postal kits overseas. However, you can find lots of fundraising resources that are free to download on our website to help with your planning and fundraising.

  • How do I attend as a guest?

    Look out for public Coffee Mornings being promoted in your local area and on social media. If someone's put up a poster, they definitely want to see you there. So go along, have fun and help your host raise as much money as possible to support people living with cancer.

    There are lots of ways to donate to a Coffee Morning. All our hosts will have an online Coffee Morning fundraising page and a QR code that you can scan to make a donation at the event using your mobile phone. You can also text to donate or make sure you have some money ready to pop in a donation box.

    If you can’t find an event, why not host your own? It's a great way to get people together and we’ll send you everything you need in our free fundraising kit.

  • How do you receive the donations given on my fundraising page?

    Donations received through your Coffee Morning fundraising page are automatically sent to us. PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay etc may be subject to charges.

    Everything you need to know about using your fundraising page can be found in our fundraising page guide.

  • Can I ask my guests to donate by text?

    If your guests would like to donate by text, they can use the generic donate code found on the money box in your fundraising pack. However, we are unable to allocate money donated by text to your Coffee Morning total and your guests cannot choose the amount they would like to donate.

    We suggest you encourage guests to use your QR codes from your fundraising pack instead. That way, your guests can donate directly to you, and they can choose the amount they would like to donate.

View all FAQs

Get even more from the Coffee Morning shop

A table is decorated for a Coffee Morning event. There are cup cake stands, a French press, a tea pot, a vase with pink flowers and a small cake on a wood board. There is Macmillan branded decorations on the table, and bunting on the wall behind the table.

Make hosting your Coffee Morning a breeze with our range of special products from the Coffee Morning shop.

Visit the Coffee Morning shop

Useful information

Sign up
Sign up and host a Macmillan Coffee Morning.
0330 102 7810

Call our Coffee Morning team.
Email us
Get in touch with our Coffee Morning team by email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common Coffee Morning questions like how to pay in money, ordering extra fundraising items and kits, and how to attend a Coffee Morning.
Fundraising resources
We have free resources that you can download to help you with planning and hosting your Coffee Morning.
Cancer information and support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, we're here to help.