Giving someone something that they will enjoy is an easy way to spread joy. There are so many things you could give – from cold drinks on a warm day, to delivering a home-baked cake to a neighbour, to leaving gifts where someone will find them. 

To avoid any wariness on the recipient’s part, make sure you explain the transaction and a good opening line can help get you going. People are often naturally suspicious, so be aware it can be a harder task to give something homemade or from an open packet to a stranger. 

You could also consider giving away “encouragements” – kind words and messages that can be handed to someone, or left anonymously to be found by random people. These could be things like painted stones or labels attached to flowers. We can be praying the right people get the right message.

Include a Joyfest card so they can scan the QR code and go to the public website if they’re curious to know more about what’s going on.

Some suggestions from previous years include:

• Delivering home baked cookies to local shops and businesses

• Leaving bunches of flowers with a label with an encouraging message and Joyfest card added

• Leaving loads of cupcakes (each with a Joyfest card) in the staff break room (you can download blank posters from here)

• Delivering a fruit basket to your doctor’s surgery, school reception

• Leaving chocolates with a note and Joyfest card for the bin men

• Filling a coolbox with ice lollies and handing them out at the school pickup

• Make up ‘break bags’ – a chocolate bar, fruit, magazine and so on – and give to people at work for their break. Perhaps shop workers, bus drivers and so on.

There are times when it’s really easy to spread some joy by picking up the tab.

This could be buying the person behind you in the queue their coffee, or paying for someone else’s parking.

There are also ‘pay-it-forward’ options. For example if there’s no one queuing in the coffee shop you can explain Joyfest to the server and pay in advance for a coffee, which they can gift to someone later on. Leave a Joyfest card for them to hand over too.

Another variation of this from previous years include taking a voucher to a restaurant and telling one of the waiters to give it to someone eating there later. When this happened previously it led to a really good conversation with the waiter in an empty restaurant.

You can buy some gift vouchers and leave them, with an explaining message, in random places for people to find.

You can also leave a stack of coins (and Joyfest card) next to vending machines, parking meters and so on.

Is there something you can do for someone else that might brighten their day? For a neighbour you could mow their lawn or wash their car? At work perhaps you could complete a tedious task someone else has to do?

Perhaps you can take inspiration from the Cub and Scout’s bob-a-job (I’m not sure they still do this) and offer to do jobs for people, without asking for a bob - perhaps they have things they do need help with, such as collecting shopping, cleaning somewhere or moving things. This can be a great thing to do with kids.

If you have a group of you, you could do something random, like turn up with cleaning equipment at local shops and offices and offer to clean their bathroom. It’s not glamorous but it’s a very practical way to express care.

Joy often is a shared experience and arranging something where people will connect and have fun can be a great Act of Joy.

People seem to be really up for doing things for a special celebration – and we just get to make Joyfest the special event.

“Hi, I’m taking part in this week-long event called Joyfest, which is about spreading a little bit of joy. So, to help brighten our Friday, I’m arranging                 . Can you come?”

In previous years there were street parties where people were wishing each other, “Happy Joyfest!”

You could arrange going for drinks after-work – there are “Thank God it’s Friday” blank flyers in the download section.

Some other ideas:

• Street parties or cream tea or barbecue party for your neighbours

• A dinner party or house party

• Get friends to vote for the most joyous movie and then do a film night at your home

• Invite people to a picnic at the park or beach

• If you work from home you could run a lunchtime joy-themed quiz on a video call with the promise of sending chocolate to the winner

• Afterschool picnic in the park for families at your children’s school