Who are we?
We are group of local volunteers, hosting our second Care Leavers Christmas Dinner in Peterborough. Our vision is to offer a wonderful Christmas experience for approximately 30 young care leavers, providing a safe, loving place for vulnerable young people to enjoy Christmas Day. We invite young people aged 18-25 who have grown up in care, e.g., in foster care and children’s homes, and would otherwise be on their own on Christmas Day.
The Christmas Dinners is an event established by writer and care leaver, Lemn Sissay OBE. Its mission is to ensure no care leaver is alone on Christmas Day. Lemn calls for communities to come together to show care leavers that they matter and deserve a Christmas Day to remember. More details about the origin of the event can be found at The Christmas Dinner
We need your help!
We are pleased to be partnering with Diamond Hampers of Huntingdon, again, who are providing our Christmas Dinner ingredients, and food items for hampers for our guests to take home.
We are asking YOU for some support too – local people and businesses, to help make this year’s Christmas Dinner one that Peterborough care leavers will remember forever.
We need:
• Gifts suitable for males and females aged 18 – 25, both generic and more tailored items once we know our guests and their likes/dislikes
• Decorations for the venue
• Hamper items such as homewares, toiletries
• Gift cards/vouchers for high street shops or supermarkets
• Financial donations to be used for the above items
Our Amazon wish list can be found here: Amazon Wish List
Donations for the Peterborough Christmas Dinner can be made via our People’s fundraising page.
Please contact us if you’d like details to make a bank transfer donation.
If you’d like to support our event, here’s an idea of what a financial donation can help us with:
• £10 pays for a stocking filler gift
• £20 pays for transport for an isolated young person to attend.
• £30 pays for an essential food hamper.
• £50 pays for household essentials (e.g., bedding, towels).
• £100 pays for a WOW present for a young guest.
Could you volunteer on the day?
We are also looking for Peterborough volunteers to support preparation for the event or to come along as hosts on the day.
Your kind support will go towards each young person receiving a special Christmas Day dinner, some thoughtful gifts, an essential hamper each to support them in the days after our Christmas Day event, and most importantly will show our young guests they are worth investing in and there are people like you who care.
We really hope you will donate as every little makes such a huge difference in helping to make The Christmas Dinner happen and gives the young care leavers of Peterborough the opportunity to celebrate festivities together and feel supported by their community.
The Christmas Dinner Group: Thechristmasdinnerpboro@gmail.com
