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Project information
The Best Christmas Ever
We will make this the Best Christmas Ever for families impacted by mental health. We will take some of the stress and expense away by bringing Santa, gifts (including proper winter coats!) and fresh festive meals to families in need of some support.
December 2016 - January 2017
Charity information: Venture Community Association
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Need
Need
Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and, for many of us, it is. For parents and carers with mental health challenges in a low income area like Golborne, Christmas can be sheer hell. The expense and expectation can be overwhelming particularly when you want to do the best for your kids.
Solution
By giving our old community hall a mini makeover, we will create a free, fun, festive escape for 40 families. Santa will be there with lovely presents (including proper winter coats) and the food will be fresh, nutritious and delicious. The pressure will lift, even if just for a while.
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Aims
Aim 1
To give families affected by mental health the Best Christmas Ever.
Activities
» Santas Grotto.
» Healthy, fresh festive meals.
» Wonderful presents (including proper winter coats).
What success will look like
Success will be 30 out of the 40 families feeding back that they have had an amazing Christmas experience.
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Impact
Impact
This project will increase our understanding of the challenges faced by families experiencing mental health at a stressful time such as Christmas. The families themselves will understand more about the local support available to them throughout the year and will feel less isolated.
Risk
The main risk is that families who are nominated may feel stigmatised. We will deal with this by being very discrete, disclosing nothing about their circumstances and extending the invite to them with no mention of any targeting.
Reporting
We will make a short film of the activities, featuring families who have benefitted and provide a written narrative report.
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Budget
Budget - Project Cost: £4,120
Loading graph....Amount Heading Description £600 Food & Drink A slap up three course christmas meal for up to 100 people. £320 Staffing Local community workers to ensure that everything goes smoothly. £800 Grotto Lights, decorations, costume and hire of an actual grotto! £1,000 Presents Great, quality presents for 100 people, including the adults. £1,400 Coats £20 per coat (discount rate) for 70 lovely warm winter coats. -
Background
Location
Our charity is based on the Wornington Green estate in Golborne, North Kensington.
Despite us being in the richest borough in Europe, our ward is one of the poorest- child poverty and mental health are massive problems here.Beneficiaries
40 local families experiencing challenges with mental health.
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Why Us?
Why Us?
We have over 500 local children registered with our adventure playground and have great relationships with their families.
Read more about the Charity running this project.
People
Michelle Poponne
Community champions manager, Experience working with vulnerable families, champions, local links. Coordinated numerous large event
Jessica McMillan
Life skills coordinator, Experience, children's practitioner, champions, local links.
Emma Thornton
Community champion volunteer with personal experience and a passion for working with vulnerable families.
£20
Will buy a new winter coat for a vulnerable child.
So many parents are struggling with depression and anxiety as well as having no money. Christmas is really adding to that, there is so much expectation. If we can make a difference even for one day we'll have made a massive difference.