A call to make Christmas special for care leavers

Don’t use -3 because Shifty has the wrong title.

A GROUP of volunteers who make sure young care leavers who would otherwise spend Christmas alone have a place to go are asking the public for help to make the event a success again this year.

The scheme is led by Beth Goodliffe, a young trusteeship graduate who knows first-hand what she is trying to get others to avoid.

It is part of a larger national movement originating in Manchester and started by the poet Lemn Sissay MBE, another trustee graduate.

He came to Barnsley seven years ago when Beth invited the townspeople to organize a Christmas dinner.

Beth said: “The aim of the project is to ensure that no care leaver spends Christmas alone.

“Inspired by this and coming from a care background, I decided the same should be true for the young people of Barnsley.

“I experienced first-hand what it was like to spend Christmas alone and realized the negative impact it had on my mental health.

“So in 2018 I took it upon myself to organize and host a dinner for Barnsley.

“Since then we have successfully hosted six dinners, creating a special day for those who would otherwise spend it alone.

“We are a small group of volunteers who raise funds, organize the venue, catering, gifts and transport to create magic and memories that will last a lifetime.

“While this is no small feat, it is a great experience to be a part of.”

When the Covid pandemic hit, the project delivered Christmas gifts and ingredients to cook dinner, accompanied by an educational video produced by Barnsley College students.

Angela Fawcett, a member of the steering group, told the Chronicle the program supports some of the most vulnerable people in the city.

“At Christmas we invite young care leavers who would otherwise have nowhere to go or be alone,” she said.

“We make sure everyone can spend the day together, receive gifts and Christmas dinner.

“Many young people will go and spend it with their foster families.

“But others will come who may have been moved around a lot.

“This will be our seventh year and we always receive great support in the form of donations.”

However, Angela said they faced two challenges this year.

She added: “One of the problems is that we are still looking for a venue.

“We expect about 25 ward graduates to come each year, but numbers vary.

“With volunteers, we will look after about 35-40 people.

“We have done this in rural councils before and last year we did it at Wentworth Castle.

“We always want to try to make it new and different for everyone who visits.”

The second request is somewhat more niche.

“We are also looking for someone to help cook Christmas dinner,” she said.

“We have a wrapping ceremony in the run-up to Christmas where people come and help wrap the gifts they give us.”