Goodtrees Operation Christmas works in partnership with several partners, including Forth 1 Cash for Kids, Social Bite, Cyrenniansand local schools, to help support children, young people and families who are affected by poverty, illness and disadvantage through the festive period.

We recognise that this Christmas is going to be especially hard with the increase in energy costs and rising prices through the cost-of-living crisis, inevitably resulting in tough choices for our families, between paying their heating bills, buying food or gifts. To ease some of this burden and to help make Christmas a more joyful experience for all, our youth volunteers will work with staff and the agencies above and go to extraordinary lengths to provide a range of emotional, physical, and financial help for families throughout Christmas and New Year. Young volunteers and community members will come together with passion and enthusiasm to design, co-ordinate, organise and facilitate a range of festive activities to give everyone the Christmas they deserve.

The aim of the project will be to increase Christmas spirit, participation, and connectedness by providing key events that will help people socialise, especially supporting those who will be most vulnerable and feeling the effects of isolation and financial pressure. All our activities include events that will distribute food hampers, gifts, and donations.

The following events will be running,

1. Great Get Together, an Intergenerational Christmas Community Lunch - allowing generations to celebrate and enjoy a homemade Christmas dinner with sing along and party games.

2. Youth Christmas Lunch - celebrating young people’s achievements, involvement, and contributions.

3. Santa’s Grotto for all local families and schools to attend.

4. Christmas Community Fun Run.

5. Community Christmas Fayre in partnership with school and agencies offering choir, games, information, signposting, food hampers and gifts.

6. Our Secret Santa will deliver gifts to over 196 local families which includes over 550 children and young people.