Last year, we supported families with the gift of choice. We spoke to the families we work with, who, without our help, would not have been able to buy a Christmas gift for their children. With money generously donated by the public and local businesses, we purchased gifts for children chosen by their parents/carers.

For the families we support, this winter will be harder than ever.

This winter will be like no other weve ever experienced. Despite this, we are determined to give children and their families a Christmas to remember.

How we're supporting local families this Christmas:

We'll be teaming up again with Wokingham Borough Council and local charities SHARE Wokingham and the Wokingham Foodbank, with support from other local charities and groups to run 'A Christmas Presence', a community Christmas project. Families who have been identified as needing our help will be invited to come along to choose gifts for their children and items for a food hamper.

'The Snug' and our Winter Warmer shop

We'll also be providing a space we've named 'The Snug' for people to go to, so that home heating, if at all affordable, can be limited. 'The Snug' will be an inviting, warm and comfortable space for residents to come and keep warm, have a hot drink and access other services whilst charging devices and even doing some washing of clothes. They'll have access to warm clothes and jackets for children and teenagers, and energy efficiency items for the home, such as slow cookers and air fryers. There will also be a play area for parents with young children who would normally be at home during the day who might struggle to keep the heating on for long.

We understand that most of us are feeling the pressure too on our household budgets, but if you can, please consider helping those less fortunate and making a donation to really help light up someones Christmas.