Residents urged to bring Christmas cheer to Tameside’s care leavers

Residents across Tameside are being urged to help make Christmas special for local care leavers by buying them a gift this festive season.

Tameside Council’s Leaving Care Service has brought back its much-loved Christmas Gift Appeal, which aims to ensure that young people who have been in care have something to open on Christmas morning.

The council currently supports 538 care leavers, aged between 18 and 25, many of whom live independently and may not have family to share the festive season with.

To make it easy for people to get involved, the service has created an Amazon Wishlist in collaboration with the care leavers themselves. The list includes a range of items to suit all budgets, from cosy blankets and toiletries to stationery and craft sets.

The wish list can be found at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2E51GOM05JITN?ref_=wl_share

The deadline for purchases is 5 December, after which all items will be sent directly to the Leaving Care Service. The team will then wrap the gifts and distribute them to care leavers in time for Christmas.

For those who prefer to shop locally, gifts can also be dropped off at Ashton Old Library, Old Street, OL6 7SG, up until the same deadline.

One care leaver shared how much the gesture means: “It’s really nice to see the council caring for their care leavers. Christmas can be a cold and lonely time for a lot of us, some of us wake up in an empty home. Even the smallest gift can remind us of someone has been or is thinking of us. Kindness means a lot.”

Cllr Teresa Smith, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Children and Families, praised the generosity of residents who support the appeal each year.

“Christmas is a happy time, and it should be no different for our care leavers. We take the privilege of opening gifts every year for granted, but without your help our care leavers may have nothing to unwrap on 25 December.

“By buying just one extra gift this year, you can ensure these young people feel loved and appreciated. Your kindness will truly make a big difference.

“It’s such a simple process – just a few clicks and you’ll have such a positive impact. I’m so proud of everyone involved in this heart warming scheme and would like to thank everyone who takes part.”

The Tameside Care Leavers Christmas Gift Appeal runs until 5 December, giving everyone the chance to spread some festive kindness and make sure every young person feels remembered this Christmas.