With this Christmas set to hopefully look different from last year's, the majority of the UK will be in preparation for the festive season filled with family, friends, and festivities. Sadly, for many homeless young people that won’t be the case this year.
After months of a turbulence due to Covid, these vulnerable young adults deserve a Christmas just like everyone else. Through Centrepoint, the UK’s leading charity for homeless young people, you can buy a simple gift to help keep them safe, well and inspired this Christmas.
All the indications are we will see another increase in the number of homeless young people this Christmas, so these ‘gifts’, which most of us take for granted, are needed more than ever right now. With life-changing gifts ranging from £10 to £144 any donation small or large makes every bit of difference to their lives this Christmas – visit: centrepoint.org.uk/morethanagift.
More Than a Christmas Dinner, £10.00
Christmas dinner is a time when family members and friends join together to share a meal and celebrate the season. But for young people who are not able to be with their family, it can be a dreadfully lonely time. By providing them with a Christmas dinner, you’ll be offering a homeless young person a comforting, hot meal to enjoy over the Christmas season in a safe, comfortable environment.
More Than a Set of Toiletries, £15.00
Giving and receiving gifts is a special part of Christmas. By giving a Christmas gift to a young person, you can help to bring a sense of love, inclusion and normality to their Christmas Day.
More Than a Counselling Session, £20.00
We offer counselling and psychological support through our therapists and Key Workers. By buying a counselling session for a young person, you're offering them the support they need to recover from their experiences and leave homelessness behind them for good.
More Than a Christmas Jumper, £25.00
Having a cosy Christmas jumper is a great way to feel part of the festive season. The gift of a jumper can help a homeless young person feel warm, comfortable and part of the festivities during this Christmas season.
More Than a Christmas Gift, £30.00
Living on the streets, sofa surfing or sleeping on a night bus can make it hard for a young person to take care of their basic hygiene needs. The gift of items like toothpaste, deodorants etc. can help make a young person feel better about themselves by making use of products we usually take for granted.
More Than a Health Check, £30.00
When a young person arrives at Centrepoint, we carefully assess both their mental and physical health to determine how best to support their needs now and in the future.
This gift ensures we can provide them with the tailored support they need to recover from their experiences.
More Than a Bed, £35.00
Without a bed of their own, a homeless young person may often have no other option but to sofa-surf or even sleep out on the streets. Without the safety and comfort of a warm bed, how can we expect a homeless young person to be happy, healthy or able to build a positive future for themselves?
More Than a Kitchen Starter Pack, £40.00
Moving on from Centrepoint, young people may not initially have enough funds for basic items such as kitchenware. The gift of cooking utensils, pots and pans will help them to cook at home for themselves.
More Than a Christmas Hamper, £50.00
Christmas is an expensive time for everyone, but for homeless young people, affording even the very basic groceries can be a major problem. The gift of a Christmas hamper can help a young person to avoid hunger over the Christmas period, and enjoy some special extras into the New Year.
More Than a Clothes Bundle, £60.00
The right clothes can be formative to confidence, success and a sense of identity. This gift provides a young person with the clothes they need to face their future.
More Than a Study Kit, £80.00
For a homeless young person, stationery, backpacks and laptops are items that carry an unrealistically steep price tag. Not having these items can mean an uphill struggle with education. A study kit can provide them with the opportunity to succeed in education or work.
More Than Music Lessons, £85.00
For many young people, engaging in music lessons has been an effective way of coping with the traumas of homelessness and beginning to move on for good. Ten lessons could help a young person to recover, or even unlock a hidden talent and open themselves up to new opportunities.
More Than Room Sponsorship, £144.00
A room at Centrepoint can ensure a young person gets the support they need to move on from a life of homelessness. This gift will not only provide a warm, safe room but also includes vital support a young person may not have previously had. The backing and the support they need to prepare them for an independent life and help them break the cycle of homelessness for good.
Please note: All the money given to Centrepoint will be used to fund our work with homeless young people. These gifts are provided as examples of what we provide for young people and represent how donations could be used.
To find out more please visit http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/.
That's Christmas would like to thank Centrepoint and The Red Consultancy for helping us to prepare this post.
"Red supports Centrepoint to help young homeless people have a brighter future."
https://redconsultancy.com/
