Christmas can be a magical time but it can also create stress, financial strain, loneliness and anxiety. You may be worrying how you will afford to make ends meet after a financially challenging year, you may not have money to purchase Christmas gifts, you may feel more alone as others around (or on social media) share what appears to be 'the perfect family Christmas'. There are charities locally that understand this and want to help and support you, whether its by providing Christmas Day Lunch, a food parcel, Christmas hamper or gifts for children in your household. Make the Christmas you want, not the Christmas social media and Christmas movies tells you to. All families are different and no family or individual is perfect.
If you need support this Christmas connect to one of the services detailed below:
Food Parcels/ Hampers
Cause distributes Christmas hampers every year to families facing financial hardship. You cannot apply directly, you can be referred through Adult Social Care or a local service such as Carers Together, Teesside Mind or The Junction Foundation. Referrers can Telephone: 0845 891 0816 or 07935 101812 Email hampers@cause-foundation.org.uk.
The White Feather Project- You can apply for a food parcel if you are a Middlesbrough resident here.
Feeding Families provides food boxes to families in need. This Christmas they are running 'A Matched Christmas Dinner' where one family buys the food for you to cook a Christmas Day dinner and delivers it directly to your home. There are six menus to choose from to suit dietary requirements. The team are also providing Christmas Food Boxes to support families. If you experiencing food poverty, please speak to a professional (Carers Together, Teesside Mind, The Junction Foundation) and request that they email Feeding Families with a referral: info@feedingfamilies.org.uk
Footprints in the Community are creating food parcels for families, speak to the team for more information. Telephone: 01642 484842 Email: administrator@footprintsinthecommunity.co.uk
The Junction Foundation are creating food parcels for young carer families, speak to the team for more information- Telephone: 01642 756000 Email: info@thejunctionfoundation.com
Salvation Army Guisborough & East Cleveland provide food vouchers to families in need, voucher requests must be done via a support agency such as Carers Together, Teesside Mind, The Junction Foundation.
Christmas Dinner
Middlesbrough Community Church, St Aidan's Centre, Clifton Street, Middlesbrough TS1 4BZ
Join from 10:30 for refreshments before the Christmas Day Family Service.
'All welcome to stay for lunch (soup, a hot turkey sandwich roll with stuffing and cranberry sauce, all with love and friendship).
Book your lunch by calling Vicky: 07515808648 or Margaret: 01642 816527 or email admin@middlesbroughcommunitychurch.org
Loftus Club Big Christmas Dinner; providing a warm meal, music and community on Christmas Day.
Book your place by calling 07395934265. Open at 12:30pm.
Marske Community Christmas at Marske Leisure Centre- The Bede Financial Group are providing a Christmas Dinner 12-3pm (25 December), a full Christmas lunch, transport if required, entertainment, friendship and meet Father Christmas. You can apply by Telephone: 01642 487768 by Friday 8 December.
Childrens Toy's
Freebies Teesside was originally set up for people to offer a helping hand to others by freecycling their unwanted items, therefore reducing the growing landfill problem, whilst helping to support struggling families and individuals within our communities. Every year the team of volunteers run a Christmas Toy Appeal, you can request support by joining the group here and messaging the Admin team.
Mission Christmas, Cash 4 Kids- every year the team receive donations to provide children who would otherwise wake up to nothing on Christmas morning with a gift. You can not apply directly, local services can help you to apply contact Carers Together, Teesside Mind or The Junction Foundation.
The Salvation Army are distributing toys to children whose parents are unable to afford presents this Christmas. Find your local Salvation Army here. You can not apply directly, local services can help you to apply contact Carers Together, Teesside Mind or The Junction Foundation.
Footprints in the Community are collecting toy donations for families, speak to the team for more information. Telephone: 01642 484842 Email: administrator@footprintsinthecommunity.co.uk
The Junction Foundation are collecting toy donations for young carer families, speak to the team for more information- Telephone: 01642 756000 Email: info@thejunctionfoundation.com
MVDA staff (the host organisation for We Care You Care) have been purchasing Christmas gifts for Carer Families, we have some toys and some items for teenagers. As this has been done by staff contributions alone we have limited items. You can express an interest by contacting us at hello@wecareyoucare.info
Other Information
The lead up to Christmas can be a very expensive time and knowing where to go to get the right help can be tricky too. We want you to know the red flags of loan sharks, so you can protect yourself.
Loan sharks can pose as your friend and draw you in with a loan, no questions asked.
Loan sharks often don’t provide any paperwork or receipts and will add huge amounts of interest on what you owe.
Loan sharks can become aggressive and threaten you and your family if payments are missed or late.
Loan sharks can take valuables or personal documents as security.
If you recognise any of these signs there are people to help, Stop Loan Sharks England are here to provide help and support for anyone involved with a loan shark.
Contact them today on 0300 555 2222 or visit www.stoploansharks.co.uk
