Helping the homeless at Christmas
It’s that time of year again, where everyone comes together and reflects on their year, asks for forgiveness, gives thanks and gathers together with their family to spread joy. However, it is very easy to get absorbed into our own lives and forget to think about those around us, especially those who are struggling to find the joy in this holiday season. There are over 130,000 children and 22,000 young adults (aged 16-22) in the UK who will be spending their Christmas in either temporary accommodation shelters or on the streets and therefore lacking the warm and comforting feeling that Christmas is supposedly all about. It is very easy to feel sorry for the 180 children who become homeless every day, but is it enough to just feel sorry for them?
As well as participating in the Christmas season - from having an advent calendar to blinging up your house with lights and tinsel - you should also give back to your community and help those in need. After all, the fundamental rule of Christmas is to be charitable and kind to others. Arguably homelessness is the most important problem to combat, especially around this particularly cold, grey and harsh time of year. What you have got to remember is that if you have nothing to celebrate it’s very hard to find happiness during this dreary and cold time, especially if you are living in reduced circumstances. How do you think being suddenly uprooted to stay in a B&B would affect your mental wellbeing? Or being kicked out of your house because you fall out with your parents?
A government minister responsible for housing has said, “Every child should have somewhere safe to live, and councils have a duty to provide temporary accommodation to those who need it, including families with children. We’re supporting them to reduce the numbers in temporary accommodation by giving £1.2bn to tackle all types of homelessness.” Although this will help solve a fraction of the problem of children’s homelessness, it will not solve the problem in the long run. There are multiple opportunities for you, as a member of the public, to help these children and young adults.
Centre Point is a charity focused on supporting young people and helping them get homes and jobs. They reach 150,000 young people each year and help change their lives. If you want to help, you can donate to their charity online at https://centrepoint.org.uk/ or you could organise a fundraiser to help raise awareness and funds, or you could volunteer with them to help support young people and get them back on track. You can even purchase gifts for a young person; you could spend £10 on a Christmas Dinner for a young person or spend £144 and sponsor a room. All of the information that you need to improve a young person’s life is on the Centre Point website.
Alternatively, the charity Barnardo’s supports children who are either homeless or living in dangerous environments. They pride themselves on “protecting, supporting and nurturing the UK's most vulnerable children” through their 1000+ services across the UK. If you wanted to help a child this Christmas you can donate to Barnardo’s online at https://www.barnardos.org.uk/ or raise money for them or volunteer with them or campaign with them for a better future for vulnerable children.
Whatever it is that you decide to do this Christmas, think, do you really want to spend £10 on a new hair accessory or belt, or would you rather use that £10 to make a difference to someone else’s life?
Amelia Lorrimore, Y12
As well as participating in the Christmas season - from having an advent calendar to blinging up your house with lights and tinsel - you should also give back to your community and help those in need. After all, the fundamental rule of Christmas is to be charitable and kind to others. Arguably homelessness is the most important problem to combat, especially around this particularly cold, grey and harsh time of year. What you have got to remember is that if you have nothing to celebrate it’s very hard to find happiness during this dreary and cold time, especially if you are living in reduced circumstances. How do you think being suddenly uprooted to stay in a B&B would affect your mental wellbeing? Or being kicked out of your house because you fall out with your parents?
A government minister responsible for housing has said, “Every child should have somewhere safe to live, and councils have a duty to provide temporary accommodation to those who need it, including families with children. We’re supporting them to reduce the numbers in temporary accommodation by giving £1.2bn to tackle all types of homelessness.” Although this will help solve a fraction of the problem of children’s homelessness, it will not solve the problem in the long run. There are multiple opportunities for you, as a member of the public, to help these children and young adults.
Centre Point is a charity focused on supporting young people and helping them get homes and jobs. They reach 150,000 young people each year and help change their lives. If you want to help, you can donate to their charity online at https://centrepoint.org.uk/ or you could organise a fundraiser to help raise awareness and funds, or you could volunteer with them to help support young people and get them back on track. You can even purchase gifts for a young person; you could spend £10 on a Christmas Dinner for a young person or spend £144 and sponsor a room. All of the information that you need to improve a young person’s life is on the Centre Point website.
Alternatively, the charity Barnardo’s supports children who are either homeless or living in dangerous environments. They pride themselves on “protecting, supporting and nurturing the UK's most vulnerable children” through their 1000+ services across the UK. If you wanted to help a child this Christmas you can donate to Barnardo’s online at https://www.barnardos.org.uk/ or raise money for them or volunteer with them or campaign with them for a better future for vulnerable children.
Whatever it is that you decide to do this Christmas, think, do you really want to spend £10 on a new hair accessory or belt, or would you rather use that £10 to make a difference to someone else’s life?
Amelia Lorrimore, Y12