During the festive season, we launch our Christmas Appeal for annual donations for our children and young people. Christmas can be a challenging time with its huge emphasis on the family unit. This can have an unintended side effect on people without a family who feel more alone and isolated than usual.
This year we have a number of ways in which you can support our children and young people:
Christmas Wishing Tree
Our children and young people need us to meet not only their basic needs, but to create memories of normal experiences of childhood that we all take for granted. Like the simple joys of a Christmas gift which gives personal meaning to the occasion. They need to be seen, heard and valued. They need to feel loved. It is a sad reality that teenagers and young people are often overlooked when it comes to gift-giving.
At Burdekin, we want to show the young people and children we work with how unique and special they are and that someone is thinking of them – after all your gift might be the only one they receive this festive season.
Put a smile on a young person’s face and a light in their heart this Christmas by fulfilling one of their Christmas wishes. Select a wish from the list below and donate the value as a gift card or in cash.
What to give
Gifting can be a tricky task – especially for those hard to read teenagers, and so we have a few ideas for you to choose from and we will match a gift to a young person for you.
Gifts are very personal and arguably should be something that shows we have taken the time to think about what the young person enjoys. We have worked with our team of Youth Workers and Case Managers who go to great lengths to know our young people, what they’re ‘into’ and what gift they are hoping for and have created a ‘wish list’ for you.
What Christmas wish can I purchase for a young person?
Meaningful gifts include education support, Internet access, swimming lessons, school supplies, course fees, driving lessons, crisis support and so much more.
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Every young person should feel safe and wanted
We believe every child and young person matters, should feel safe and supported and have the opportunity to reach their full potential, not just during the holidays.
We believe that all children and young people with the right support will not only survive, but thrive, especially when we go beyond supporting their basic needs and add a touch of love.
A challenging time for people without conventional families
Most young people just want to hang out with friends, have fun and enjoy life. They also go to school, do homework, sit exams and have the usual adolescent pressures all the while being supported by their family.
This is not the case for the young people we work with. They are also trying to build a life for themselves, but don’t have an extended support network and safe home environment to lean on. They need to learn fast to be self-sufficient with limited family and financial support.
Christmas, birthdays, other holidays and major accomplishments can be a challenging time with their natural emphasis on the family unit. This can have an unintended side effect on people without a family who feel more alone and isolated than ever during these special occasions.
Before you finalise your Christmas shopping, please donate the value of a thoughtful gift for one of our young people. Often these gifts are the only one the young person will receive this Christmas. Be their special Santa!
Gift cards or cash donations will be used by our dedicated staff to fulfil the wishes of our young people on your behalf.
Read how a gift card purchase can fulfil a young person’s Christmas wish.
