Volunteers in Bradford are coming together to make sure care leavers don’t spend Christmas alone.
The people of Bradford, businesses and charitable organisations have come together to provide Young People aged between 16 and 25-years-old who are care leavers with a special Christmas dinner and Party.
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The generosity of The Midland Hotel, the district’s residents, Hay’s Travel, Morrison’s and Asda (Shipley) who have kindly donated money or gifts have enabled the party to take place on Tuesday, 17 December.
As well as a Christmas buffet the young people will each receive a present donated by staff from Bradford Council and residents. Gifts were donated by staff in their role as corporate parent along with Bradford residents.
This year Bradford will also be hosting The Christmas Dinner, in association with Lemn Sissay, on Christmas Day. More than 50 young people who are care leavers who would normally be spending Christmas Day alone will be invited to celebrate and have a special dinner on Christmas Day.
The Christmas Dinner is an annual project founded by the poet Lemn Sissay MBE for communities to provide a Christmas Day for care leavers aged between 18 and 25 – one they’ll never forget.
Councillor Adrian Farley, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for children and families, said: “We want to ensure that all our young people receive a gift this Christmas and get the chance to spend this special time of year with other people. Christmas, like all holiday times, can be a particularly significant time for children in care and care leavers.
“This year we are also taking part in The Christmas Dinner which will provide a meal and a chance to be with others for our young people who would otherwise have spent the day alone. Planning for this has been ongoing for months with a wide range of volunteers and I would like to thank each and every one of them for providing the chance to create special memories for our young people who have left care.
“I would like to thank staff at Bradford Council, residents, businesses and charities for all their support in making sure that these event can go ahead to make Christmas so special.”
