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FIRST DAYS GIVES GIFT OF CHOICE THIS CHRISTMAS
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today
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FAMILIES can give the gift of choice this Christmas with a First Days’ appeal.
The children’s charity has launched its annual festive appeal, but this year is different.
Instead of asking for gifts to be purchased and donated, the charity is asking for cash donations that empower parents and carers to choose a present for their child.
“At First Days, everything we do aims to restore dignity, choice and power to families with a low-income,” a charity spokesperson explained. “Three things that are so often taken away from people when they’re experiencing times of hardship, and do not have financial autonomy.
“That is why we’ve chosen to change the way we support families this Christmas.
“Last year, with help from many kind and generous supporters and businesses, we re-distributed £85,000 worth of gifts to children.
“Although these children were happy to receive wonderful gifts, feedback from some of the parents was that they felt oversupplied with presents and were put in a position with an unsustainable standard or expectation for future Christmases or birthdays.”
Instead, the charity wants to ensure families are given dignity, choice and power this Christmas.
“Choice is everything, especially at Christmas, and this year we want to give families the gift of choice,” the spokesperson added. “What every parent or carer wants is to choose a meaningful gift for their child.
“Many of us are lucky enough to be able to choose presents for our children that we know they will love. You may have experienced that magical feeling of seeing your child’s face light up on Christmas morning, opening a present that you have thoughtfully chosen for them.”
First Days is appealing for residents to give a £25 donation, to cover the cost of a present.
“We’ll be helping families in the most desperate of need this Christmas whose children, without our support, would not receive any presents this year,” the spokesperson added. “We’ll be talking directly to these parents and carers and will support them through a process where they will be able to choose gifts for their children.”
The charity is also working with other organisations in Wokingham and Reading to run Christmas events.
These events are open to parents and carers who have been identified as needing a helping hand, and will allow them to choose stocking gifts for their child. n For more information, or to donate, visit: firstdays.net
APPEAL: First Days Children’s Charity wants to give the gift of choice Picture: IRST Yevhen Buzuk from Pixabay
NEWS | 13 COP26: Crowthorne pupils represent county
TWO Crowthorne sixth form students were selected to represent Berkshire at this year’s COP26.
The UK Schools Sustainability Network, UKSSN, took a diverse group of college pupils from across the country to Glasgow for the event.
And Wellington College, on Duke’s Ride, saw its students, Georgiana Nason and Cindy Guo, selected to be part of the team.
The pair, who are members of the Wellington College sustainability programme travelled to Glasgow to represent the Berkshire constituency.
Out of almost 200 applicants, 40 pupils were selected to form a team representing the UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN).
From that group, 20 were
selected to create a youth delegation that will travel to Glasgow to participate and attend a series of events, which Georgiana was chosen for. Ana Romero, head of sustainability at Wellington College, said Georgiana and Cindy have been great students. “Their contributions to the sustainability programme have always been outstanding, and they earned the title of sustainability ambassadors,” she said. “They worked very hard in their application to UKSSN, trying to achieve a place in one of the world’s most crucial high-level conferences, this is an outstanding achievement, not only for the courage to apply but also for the significant commitment they are adopting before, during and after attending COP26.” Diocese chapter supports minorities
THE DIOCESE of Oxford has formally created a new group for minority ethnic clergy.
The UK minority ethnic chapter will offer pastoral support to ordained clergy and licensed lay ministers across the area.
The Revd Canon Janet Binns has been appointed dean of the chapter. She will work alongside the Revd Polly Falconer, UKME development enabler for the diocese, to help the voices of their members be heard. The partnership also aims to promote a better understanding of racism, racial issues and cultural diversity.
Canon Binns feels excited and honoured to be the first dean of the chapter.
She said: “This is a milestone achievement for the diocese.”
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