Cuisinart launches coffee machine giveaway to support UK’s everyday heroes

As we head into one of the busiest and most emotionally demanding moments of the year, new research commissioned by Cuisinart, a leading kitchen appliance company, reveals just how many people are approaching Christmas feeling burnt out, with 67% of Brits admitting they’ve felt too exhausted to fully enjoy Christmas celebrations.
The strain is especially hard for those who keep the country running, with over three quarters (77%) of keyworkers reporting an inability to enjoy the festive period due to tiredness, with 12% saying they always feel to run down to embrace the festivities.
To shine a light on the everyday heroes who keep the country going – from NHS workers and carers to teachers, transport staff, delivery drivers and parents – Cuisinart has launched Getting You Through with a Brew, a nationwide giveback campaign inviting people to nominate themselves or someone deserving of a festive pick-me-up.
At its heart, Cuisinart’s aim is simple: to offer people a pause. A warm brew has long been a symbol of comfort, connection and reset, and the campaign hopes to bring a moment of calm to those who give so much.
The Small Comforts That Keep the Country Going
Despite widespread fatigue, the research shows that simple season comforts play a powerful role in supporting the nation’s wellbeing. When asked what makes the biggest difference, nearly half (44%) of Brits said spending time with family and friends is their top festive wellbeing booster.
Other activities having a positive effect on the nation’s wellbeing includes, turning to festive films and TV (41%), finding comfort in a home-cooked festive meal (32%), and downtime on their own with a cuppa to unwind (21%).
Among keyworkers, the need for connection and comfort is even more pronounced, with 45% saying time with loved ones is their biggest wellbeing lift, and over a quarter (29%) admitting that a home-cooked festive meal makes the most difference.
It’s also clear family time grows in importance with age, with nearly half of Brits aged 45–54 and 55+ saying time with loved ones boosts their wellbeing (49% and 48%), with women also more likely than men to find comfort in family connection (49% vs 40%).
A call for kindness: Brits want keyworkers to be appreciated
The research also highlights an overwhelming public desire to recognise the people who keep the country going at Christmas. Nearly three-quarters of Brits (74%) say keyworkers deserve more appreciation over the festive season, while an even greater proportion (77%) believe NHS staff should receive greater recognition.
Support extends widely across essential services, with 73% agreeing that carers and social workers need more appreciation, closely followed by armed forces personnel (66%) and police officers (62%).
Even half of the public (50%) feel teachers aren’t valued enough at this time of year – highlighting a growing appetite for a more thoughtful, compassionate Christmas.
The hidden sacrifices being made every Christmas
Beyond emotional exhaustion, the data reveals the practical toll of working during the festive period. More than half of Brits (56%) have had to miss personal or family celebrations due to work commitments, but this disruption is far greater for those in essential roles.
Seven in ten keyworkers (70%) have missed important festive moments, and a third say they’ve had to do so three to five times. For frontline health workers, the situation is even more striking: 86% have sacrificed celebrations to keep services running. While many people enjoy downtime with loved ones, thousands across the country continue working around the clock – often at the expense of their own Christmas.
Small gestures matter – and could transform festive wellbeing
However, the findings reveal that meaningful recognition doesn’t need to be grand to have impact. Almost four in five Brits (79%) say a small gesture or festive treat would positively affect their wellbeing, and this sentiment is even stronger among those working through the holidays.
For keyworkers, the figure rises to 87%, while an extraordinary 90% of frontline health and social care workers and 89% of teachers say a simple act of appreciation would improve how they feel during the season.
In response, Getting You Through with a Brew seeks to turn these insights into action, offering simple moments of comfort to those who rarely stop for themselves. By encouraging people to nominate someone deserving of a small but meaningful pick-me-up, Cuisinart hopes to help lift spirits and remind everyone that their efforts don’t go unseen.
Amrita Atwal, Marketing Director (EMEA) at Cuisinart said: “Getting You Through with a Brew is our way of recognising the people who keep the country moving, both on and off the frontline. A cup of coffee can’t fix everything, but it can offer someone a small moment of peace or appreciation at a time of year that can feel overwhelming.”
Members of the public can nominate themselves, a friend, colleague or family member who deserves recognition this Christmas. From NHS workers to teachers, shop staff, carers, delivery drivers or anyone who has had a challenging year, Cuisinart wants to celebrate those making a difference.