Tuesday 3 December is Giving Tuesday (https://www.givingtuesday.org.uk/): a day that encourages people to do good. Created in 2012, over the last decade this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

There are different activities underway across our Diocese that support people who need some extra help – very important at this time of year – and that would welcome donations, not just on Giving Tuesday but all year round.

Read on to find out about what’s happening at Andover foodbank, Basingstoke Families Together and InSight at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth.

The Andover foodbank (https://andover.foodbank.org.uk/about/) started in March 2006 to provide emergency food boxes to people in crisis in and around Andover.  In 2023 the foodbank fed more than 7,500 people.

The foodbank is a community-based project using resources within the local community to support those in need. Support and donations come from local churches, schools, groups and companies across Andover and the foodbank partners with more than 70 local charities and agencies.   Care professionals identify those in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher while they continue to work with them to solve the longer-term problems.  In addition to food, the foodbank provides essentials such as cleaning products, toiletries and baby products.

At Christmas the foodbank supports people with children’s gift boxes and hampers or bags of long-life Christmas treats. These help to alleviate the many financial pressures and allow people to celebrate Christmas rather than exist through it. In 2023, after receiving gift boxes, one mother said: “It took the stress out of Christmas a bit. The kids loved their items.”  Another family said: “You have just lifted a huge weight off our shoulders.”

The foodbank has now distributed nearly over 1,000 gift boxes (see photo) and will distribute around the same number of hampers (see photo) to professional care workers at local agencies and schools including Children’s Services, Finding Freedom and Andover Young Carers, so they can pass them on to the families they identified as needing support this Christmas.   The photograph shows volunteers Graham and Martin ready to deliver some of the gift boxes.

“Both projects are supported by generous donations from local individuals, companies, clubs and schools and achieved due to the hard work of our fantastic team of volunteers,” said Annie Mihell, the foodbank’s Secretary.

“The projects are all about people in the community helping those in need within their community.  Donors put considerable effort into their gift boxes, organise collections, give financially or volunteer to help with the sorting out and packing.”

In Basingstoke, Caritas Portsmouth’s (https://caritasportsmouth.org.uk/) family support group (Families Together) held a Christmas party at the end of November, where the children had a visit and gift from Father Christmas as well as taking part in gingerbread decorating and pass the parcel, while parents went home with a Christmas treats hamper (see photo).  The Group supports families who are in recovery from a variety of issues, including domestic violence, and help by providing a safe space for families to come and build relationships in their communities.  This group is also looking forward to a trip to the local pantomime, something many of them might have missed out on.  This is thanks to the Anvil (https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/, who have donated some free tickets! The younger children are seeing The Owl Who Came for Christmas and the older ones are seeing Sleeping Beauty.

In Portsmouth, InSight (https://caritasportsmouth.org.uk/insight-projects/) in the Cathedral will be hosting a Christmas lunch later in December for 60-70 regular guests that will include games and gifts. This groups supports people who are lonely and often have some mental health issues. They gain a huge amount by being able to spend time together and have some regular structure to their week, as well as a hot meal that they wouldn’t make for themselves at home.

For those on their own on Christmas Day the Cathedral also hosts a Christmas lunch, organising the meal along with the transport to and from the lunch for those unable to make their own way there. It provides a welcome chance for people to celebrate with others, rather than being isolated in a time when many of their usual support services are closed.

If you would like to support Caritas, find out more here https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/charity/caritas-diocese-of-portsmouth