Four decades after its release by Wham!, royalties from the festive hit Last Christmas
have helped the George Michael Fund issue more than 20 grants across the UK. The funding supports disadvantaged children, youth mental health counseling, and LGBTQ+ youth facing homelessness or family estrangement.
From a 1984 Pop Release to a UK Chart Milestone
British pop duo Wham!, featuring George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, released Last Christmas
on December 3, 1984, as a double A-side paired with Everything She Wants
. Written and produced by Michael, the track became a defining festive release of the decade, reaching No. 2 on the UK singles chart that Christmas. It was kept off the top spot by Band Aid’s famine-relief single Do They Know It’s Christmas?
, which also featured Michael on vocals.
The song’s connection to philanthropy dates back to its original launch, when Michael publicly committed his royalties to famine relief in Ethiopia after participating in Band Aid. In a 2024 interview with Big Issue, Ridgeley recalled that decision, explaining that the duo wanted the track to contribute to relief efforts. Over the years, the seasonal favourite developed an independent commercial life, returning to the charts each festive season and reaching No. 1 in the UK in January 2021 before claiming the official UK Christmas No. 1 spot in 2023. Sony Music noted during its 40th-anniversary announcement in October 2024 that the recording stands as one of the country’s best-selling singles of all time.
George Michael Fund Gives Grants to UK Youth Organizations
To mark the song’s 40th anniversary in 2024, accumulated royalties helped finance more than 20 grants distributed by the George Michael Fund to organizations supporting children and young people throughout the UK. The giving initiative reflects the late singer’s long-standing dedication to charitable causes, which he frequently pursued quietly during his lifetime without public attention. Following his death on Christmas Day in 2016, his family and executors maintained those efforts, eventually establishing the George Michael Fund in 2024 to support causes close to his heart. The fund is managed by The Talent Fund on behalf of the Mill Charitable Trust, an organization Michael established in 2009.
Rather than focusing on a single issue, the anniversary funding targeted several areas of need. Support went toward providing Christmas gifts for disadvantaged children as part of the UK’s biggest gift-giving effort aimed at ensuring children do not wake up to nothing on Christmas morning. Other grants funded mental health counseling for young people experiencing emotional distress, as well as assistance for LGBTQ+ youth dealing with family estrangement or homelessness.
Community Impact at the Mayfield Centre
Recipient organizations demonstrated how the financial backing translates into practical community services. In a December 2024 announcement, Step2 confirmed it received funding from the George Michael Fund derived from Last Christmas
royalties, which allowed the organization to provide additional community counseling sessions at the Mayfield Centre.
The initiative is structured to endure beyond a single holiday milestone. The fund's website confirmed that the grant-making process was repeated the following year, ensuring that royalties generated by seasonal playlist streaming continue to fund year-round support services for young people facing hardship.
