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, 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 are open to parents and carers who have been identified as needing a helping hand, and allow them to choose stocking gifts for their child.
For more information, or to donate, visit: firstdays.net/christmas or call 0118 9219 338
