At this time of year, we sing of the angels who gave messages about a baby born to change the world. In the theatre world angels are people who back productions to get them off the ground. And there are angels here on Earth, people who bring gifts from God in the form of love, care and devotion such as we see in the those who dedicate their lives to working through the charities of our Christmas Appeal. We celebrate the sort of angel that comforts us when we are struggling, breathes life into us, inspires us and then urges us into action. We are looking for angels in this season of Advent.

This Christmas we are supporting three charities, one in Leeds and two overseas, and we invite you to donate to the appeal. All of the proceeds raised by the appeal are shared between the three charities.

The Leeds based charity that we are supporting is the Leeds Baby Bank. Its mission is to ensure no child goes without. Founded in 2017 with the aim of helping others by sharing pre-loved baby items with families across Leeds. The charity has grown rapidly now supports thousands of families every year and is one of the most established baby banks in the country. Leeds Baby Bank supports families in Leeds, with children aged 0-5 years, who are experiencing poverty. It aims to empower local families to provide their children with everything they need at the earliest possible stage of their children’s lives. It provides families in desperate situations with all the essentials and equipment they need for their babies and young children. This includes: bed bundles, nappies and toiletries, baby baths, potties, high chairs, prams and buggies, baby food and milk, clothes and shoes, toys and books. Families are referred to Leeds Baby Bank by care professionals from across Yorkshire. The Baby Bank also runs an outreach service once a week in the communities in Leeds where there is high deprivation. This drop-in service provides support to parents and children, as well as providing essential items including nappies, toiletries and baby food for families who cannot afford to buy the absolute essentials for their babies and children. Demand for this service has soared since the cost-of-living crisis began. Most of the items given out are donations of pre-loved baby items and equipment - every year this also saves thousands of items from going to landfill. Many of the families choose to donate back their items when they have used them. In this way, the cycle of support continues - one donation can then help many families.

Leeds Baby Bank supports children at the earliest stage of life. By providing this early intervention it aims to reduce the impact of child poverty. Making a positive difference in the early years can have a lifelong impact on the life opportunities of an individual child.

Find out more at www.leedsbabybank.org

The Sylvia Wright Trust is a registered charity which supports children with disabilities and the education of student nurses in a remote and rural part of India. Founded in 1982 by a nurse from Leeds today, there are three projects in the state of Tamil Nadu: a residential school for 200 children who have hearing impairments; a day centre for 80 children with disabilities and a nursing college for 120 students. The projects supported by the Sylvia Wright Trust have improved the lives of thousands of people and continue to help improve lives in Tamil Nadu.

Find out more at www.sylviawright.org

Commitment for Life supports the work of Christian Aid in Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In Bangladesh, it supports the establishment of rights for marginalised communities to access land, water, forests, and basic government services, and want to see local and national institutions be more accountable in their decision making. In Zimbabwe, its vision is for resilient, thriving, and peaceful communities that have a voice and are empowered to find their own ways out of poverty. In the Middle East it works with more than twenty Israeli and Palestinian organisations to protect human rights, access services, and build peace based on justice for all. Its development and humanitarian relief reaches Palestinians and Israelis; Jewish, Muslim, Christian and secular. Today amidst the conflict thousands of people have been killed and in 2023 over a million people displaced. In Gaza, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Commitment for Life’s established partners in Gaza are responding as best they can, under intense pressure, with medical relief and community-led initiatives such as food, shelter, sanitation and cash. In southern Gaza, support is being given to those most recently displaced there as a result of the war.

Commitment for Life also supports Global Justice Now, part of a global movement to create a more just and equal world. It seeks to mobilise people in the UK for change, and act in solidarity with those fighting injustice, particularly in the global south.

Find out more at:

www.christianaid.org.uk

www.globaljustice.org.uk