About us
No Rainbows Without Rain has grown into a non-profit charitable incorporated organisation from the initial establishment of Secret Santa Cumbria (SSC) in December 2022, when, 6 days before Christmas that year, a simple post on Facebook by our founder, Rhiannon, trying to help a friend who had been struggling that year to get some presents for her two daughters.
After the Facebook post asking for help to start a toy collection for local kids, donations of cash, toys and clothes came in thick and fast. A £500 voucher from Northern Competitions for Smyth's Toys, alongside the cash and toy donations, meant that in 6 days SSC were able to provide gifts to 96 children, all their parents and several vulnerable members of the Cumbrian community.
In 2023 @SecretSantaCumbria was established to promote the project - "we provide gifts to kids and Pensioners in Cumbria". We raised £10,800 by the support of the community, which meant that a local community centre had to be used to wrap and bag up all of the presents. That Christmas 616 people all had gifts delivered from Secret Santa Cumbria.
We wanted to help people all year round and so we rebranded to No Rainbows Without Rain and became a registered charitable incorporated organisation on 6th August 2024 (reg no. 1209447), with the aim of proving hard times don't last forever - there is light amongst the storm.
We began helping people with living essentials, household goods, food, clothing, etc. During Christmas 2024 the community centre was sold, which meant we were back to working from the basement where we first started. However, through the dedication of a small team, we were able to provide presents to an astonishing 501 people and a further 70 People with two-course Christmas dinners.
On the 4th July 2025 we took out the tenancy of our current headquarters at Solway House, Oxford Street, Workington CA14 2AL.
This has allowed us to expand the great team of volunteers who provide their time and energy free of charge to help us further embed our mission to support our Cumbrian communities. A lot of hard work went into decorating and setting up the shop floor.
Watch the grand ribbon cutting when we officially opened.
Having established our HQ enabled us to run Secret Santa Cumbria for Christmas 2025 more efficiently and allowed us to provide gifts to an astonishing 945 people across every corner of Cumbria, plus another 403 people who all had a Christmas dinner provided either by hamper or by pre-made meal. Totalling 1,348 people - and that’s without the additional people who have received help through Whitegoods / furniture, food pantry, clothing, birthday gifts, etc.
IT CAN'T RAIN FOREVER
No Rainbows Without Rain began as a small idea in the living room of our founder, who was deeply moved by the struggles and resilience of our local community. Witnessing first-hand the challenges faced by individuals and families in Cumbria, we knew we had to act. From humble beginnings, we've grown into a passionate team dedicated to providing essential support services, new start reassurance, and keeping spirits high in and around Cumbria. Our commitment is driven by a belief that, just as there are no rainbows without rain, there is always hope and brighter days ahead for those who face adversity. Each member of our team brings their unique expertise and compassion, working tirelessly to ensure that every person who needs us, receives our help and the encouragement they need. We are proud of our roots and the trust we've earned within our community, and we continue to strive for a better, more inclusive future for all.
Get in Touch
If our mission resonates with you, please consider making a financial donation or volunteering your time and skills.
If you need our support, we are here to help - your journey towards a brighter future starts with a single step. See Need Help? for full details.