While many of us look forward to celebrations with family and friends, it’s important to remember that Christmas can be a challenging time for those in need.
From families struggling to make ends meet to individuals facing loneliness, thousands across Scotland rely on the support of local charities to help make the season a little brighter. By donating to a charitable cause this Christmas, you can make a real difference in someone’s life and spread the true spirit of the season.
Whether it’s contributing to a food bank, supporting a homelessness charity, or donating gifts to children who might otherwise go without, every act of kindness counts.
Charities across the country are working tirelessly to provide essential aid and comfort to those less fortunate, and your support can help them go even further. This Christmas, why not consider giving back to your community and helping one of the charities below to create a season of hope, warmth, and generosity for all?
Forces Children Scotland
For most children, Christmas means spending time with family, exchanging gifts, and creating lifelong memories. Think about the joy and anticipation that comes with getting prepared for the festive season.
For children with a parent deployed over Christmas, it will feel very different. Deployment is hard at any time, but challenges can intensify at this time of year, especially with global tensions, fears of escalation, the realities of military life, and the potential dangers factored into the mix.
“During Christmas, when my dad is away, it is difficult, he leaves little clues around the house leading to presents he’s left for me! Each year is always a little different than the last which makes it quite exciting but also strange. When he is away (over Christmas) it feels even longer than usual.”
There are circa one thousand children in the West of Scotland, many having parents in the Royal Navy. This community face longer, more frequent deployments lasting six months or more, with limited or no contact from home. To put things in perspective, their parents can deploy for up to 660 days over three years, compared to 498 days for the Army and 468 days for the Royal Air Force, respectively.
“When I was in primary six, he went away and got back in March when I was in primary seven. That is the longest deployment he has been on. He was away for 430 days in total, and I got to see him for twenty of them.”
Prolonged or frequent separation can prove detrimental to child development, impacting mental health, family bonds, emotional security, and even school performance. Moreover, this community can feel their unique experiences are seldom heard and misunderstood by peers, teachers, and decision-makers, leading to a sense of helplessness, and feeling lost and alone.
That’s why we work directly with children from armed forces communities to co-produce tailored services to manage challenges faced, especially during a time that is supposed to be about togetherness and joy. We co-develop mental health services, deliver youth forums and residential experiences. We help this community to stand up for their rights and provide financial support to pursue passions and dream big. Better still, we assist professionals to enhance their understanding and practice through accredited CPD training.
Become a force for good this Christmas - donate in support of Forces Children Scotland.
X/Facebook/Instagram: @ForcesChildScot
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/forces-children-scotland
TikTok: @forces.children.scotland
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Beatson Cancer Charity
THIS Christmas, Beatson Cancer Charity is inviting the community to help spread hope and comfort through the Beatson Bauble Appeal 2024. Each bauble hung symbolises a message of love, remembrance, or gratitude, creating a powerful display of support for cancer patients and their families during this meaningful time of year.
The Beatson Bauble Appeal is a chance to honour loved ones, thank Beatson’s dedicated team, or extend hope to those facing cancer.
Donations directly fund vital services and resources that make a difference. Participating is simple, with options to give online, leave a dedication message, or text “BAUBLE” to 70580 to donate £10.
Every contribution has a tangible impact: £25 can provide a care package to help patients feel more comfortable; £50 funds a podiatry session for chemotherapy patients ; £75 enables complementary therapies for three patients, while £100 provides MP3 players filled with relaxation techniques for six patients.
With the appeal, the charity aims to bring a festive season filled with hope, care, and compassion to those who need it most. Supporting the Bauble Appeal is a way to make this Christmas brighter and share kindness and solidarity with everyone impacted by cancer.
See www.fundraising.beatsoncancercharity.org/donate/bauble
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Erskine
Caring for Veterans since 1916
EACH year, Erskine Veterans Charity cares for many ex-Servicemen and women from all backgrounds – and you can make a difference to the lives of our country’s Veterans who have sacrificed so much.
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The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice
The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow provides palliative and end of life care to those who need it from the Greater Glasgow and East Renfrewshire area. Its aim is that while it cannot add days to life it can add life to days.
Through the multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, the charity offers a wide range of services, including pain and symptom management, emotional and psychological support and practical assistance, both within the hospice at Bellahouston Park and within people’s own homes. With a commitment to enhancing quality of life, the hospice continually strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those it serves.
Kirsty Dolan is 22 and was training to be a nurse when her father Robert became seriously unwell. Kirsty’s father Robert was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about ten years ago. When Robert’s condition worsened, he came to The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice for specialist care. Kirsty says: “Dad was in the IPU for about a week where he just received the very best care you could imagine. We got to spend as much time with him as we could, and we even got to bring our dogs in for a visit.
“We spent quality time with Dad, listening to his favourite music and had the peace to enjoy our time together. When he was nearing the end of his life, we all stayed over at the hospice in the family rooms so we could be close. And then after he died, we got to spend a few hours with him, again listening to his favourite music. We had as much time as we needed to say goodbye.”
However, following her dad’s death, Kirsty found herself struggling with her grief and even considered dropping out of her university nursing degree course. “I was at breaking point and had gone to the doctors who offered me medication, but I didn’t want to take it, explains Kirsty. “It wasn’t the kind of help I needed. So, I emailed the hospice and their Family Support Service got in touch and I have to say it changed my life. The support I got helped me feel stronger and make sense of everything. I am so happy I continued at University; I just don’t think I would have got here without the hospice.”
The hospice could not offer these services, however, without the unwavering and supremely generous support from the people of Glasgow and further afield. It costs more than £13,000 a day to provide this specialist care and support and requires more than £5million to be fundraised each year to keep the doors open.
There are lots of ways to support the hospice.
You could volunteer with us, take part in a fundraising event, or organise your own event. Pushed for time but would still like to help? You could make a financial donation, or support us by visiting our public cafe, or any of our 17 retail hospice shops throughout Greater Glasgow. Any support you can provide helps us to continue delivering and improving our services. Thank you.
Find out more here www.ppwh.org.uk
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