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

Let's all get together and do our bit to make cancer care better for everyone. 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.
Sign up to host

Where to host your Coffee Morning

Whether it's a Coffee Morning at your local library, a great gathering at work, or an open house with your neighbours, we have everything you need to help make your event a success.
A group of people are sat around a table and attending a Coffee Morning at the Macmillan's London office. Someone is taking as selfie of the group. They all have yummy Coffee Morning treats with them.A group of people are sat around a table and attending a Coffee Morning at the Macmillan's London office. Someone is taking as selfie of the group. They all have yummy Coffee Morning treats with them.
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
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

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.
A lady is standing and smiling at the camera. The photo was taken at a Coffee Morning with the Pineapple Club in London. She has on a sun hat, sunglasses, a pin jacket, skirt and colourful top. She is holding a plate with different yummy Coffee Morning treats on it.

1. Sign up as a host

The first step is to sign up to host so you can receive your free Coffee Morning fundraising kit.

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 will also need to choose where you are hosting your event. This is so we can send you helpful information and tips for your event.

A person writing on a Coffee Morning poster with the details of their event. The poster is on a table decorated for a Coffee Morning.

2. Invite people to your event

Get the date in your guests' calendars!

To make it easy, we have invites, posters, social media assets and other free Coffee Morning resources that you can use to get the word out.

If you are hosting an event that is open to the public, then add it to our Coffee Morning map so people in your community can attend.

A cake has been decorated with beautiful hand painted flowers made of coloured frosting. There is also a strawberry that has been cut up and displayed like a flower.

3. Prepare your bakes

Great food is the highlight of any Coffee Morning. If you need inspiration, check out our Coffee Morning recipes. From savoury delights to classic sweet treats, scrumptious vegan bites to gluten free nibbles, we have different recipes that are sure to impress your guests.

A person is putting up bunting on a bookshelf to decorate for a Coffee Morning.

4. Get your venue ready

When you sign up to host a Coffee Morning, we'll send you a fundraising kit with everything you need to be ready for your event. This includes a tablecloth, bunting and balloons if you asked for a full fundraising kit.

We also have posters, guides to make your own bunting and other free downloads on our Coffee Morning resources page.

Many people are standing around a table decorated for a Coffee Morning. They appear to be talking to one another. One person in a blue hijab is holding a green Coffee Morning branded cup and pointing at some food on the table.

5. Host your Coffee Morning

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

Remember to have change for people who want to donate with cash. You can also ask for donations to your fundraising page by using the QR codes from your fundraising pack.

Take and share pictures for everyone to see, and don't forget to share on our Coffee Morning Facebook group.

A group of four people are gathered around a table for a Coffee Morning. They are each holding a mug and are toasting. The table has different yummy treats on it like cupcakes, muffins and a bowl of fruit.

Advice for returning Coffee Morning hosts

If you've hosted a Coffee Morning before, you may be wondering how to make your next one even greater than the last!

Check out our advice

Resources to help you plan your Coffee Morning

A preview of the Coffee Morning host checklist.A preview of the Coffee Morning host checklist.
Host checklist
A graphic showing a preview of the Coffee Morning Wall Planner on a light green background.A graphic showing a preview of the Coffee Morning Wall Planner on a light green background.
Wall planner
A preview of the top tips for promoting your Coffee Morning guide.A preview of the top tips for promoting your Coffee Morning guide.
Tips for promoting your event
View all our Coffee Morning resources
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.

Join our Coffee Morning Facebook group

From advice on what food to serve to guidance on fun fundraising games and activities, our Facebook group is a great way to connect to other hosts and find inspiration for your event.

Join the Facebook group

After your Coffee Morning

A person is donating £10 in a Coffee Morning donation box. It is on a table full of delicious bites and treats.

When your Coffee Morning is done, it's time to celebrate your success by thanking your gusts and paying in your donations.

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 2026 is Friday 25 September. Many people host before or after our official day though.
  • 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.

  • How do I attend as a guest?

    You can search for public events happening near you by using our Coffee Morning map.

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

    All our hosts will have an online Coffee Morning fundraising page that you can make a donation to. They will have QR codes that you can scan to connect you to the fundraising page. You can also bring money with you to pop in to the donation box.

    If you can't find an event near you, 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.

  • What should I do if I want to change my Coffee Morning date?

    You can change your Coffee Morning date anytime you like. You do not need to let us know if the date has changed for your event.

    However, we are unable to change the timing of the emails you receive from us. You will still receive emails from us in sequence from your original Coffee Morning date.

    To change the date of your Coffee Morning on JustGiving, watch our handy tutorials on updating your fundraising page.

    If you have added your event to our Coffee Morning map and need to change the date, email coffee@macmillan.org.uk to let us know.

  • Can I host a Coffee Morning in another country?

    Of course! Please note we can’t send postal kits overseas. However, you can download our overseas Coffee Morning fundraising kit and fundraising resources to help with your planning and fundraising.

  • When will I receive my thank you letter and certificate?

    After your Coffee Morning you will receive:

    • A confirmation email when we receive your donations. If you pay your donations in different amounts or methods (such as at the bank, Post Office, by bank transfer, etc.) than you will receive a confirmation email after each transaction. Please check your spam or junk email folder for these emails.
    • Thank you letter and certificate. You will receive this in the post after we receive your first donation. We may send you further thank you letters and certificates as your Coffee Morning total is updated. It may take some time for your total to be updated because different payment methods may take longer to be registered on our system.

    Facebook and Text2 Donate donations unfortunately are not included in your totals.

    To make sure your fundraising total is as accurate as possible, we encourage you to pay in all your fundraising in one go.

    Please contact us if you would like a bespoke thank you with these amounts included. Email coffee@macmillan.org.uk or phone 0330 102 7810.

View all FAQs

Coffee Morning contacts and useful information

Sign up to host
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.
Coffee Morning 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.