This may be a little bit different but here is my story:

Every year at this time we all spoil our kids with luxurious gifts. Lets be honest some of these gifts barely get used after Xmas, leaving you wondering why you spend a ridiculous amount of money on them in the first place. Every year without fail I have spent over £1000 on gifts and less than a year later a lot of them are sat gathering dust.

So this year I have decided to do something different. I want to minimise what I spend on gifts for other people, and instead concentrate on giving to the needy, hopefully with some help from the Just Giving community. I've lived in Gloucester pretty much my whole life and if you are from Gloucester you will know we have a real homeless issue especially in the town center. Now dont get me wrong I know that some of these guys are not homeless and are just trying their luck. But there are quite a few who you can clearly see are desperate and in need. Those are the people I would really like to help.

I dont plan on giving them money directly as I cannot be sure what it would be spent on. I plan on buying them essentials i.e warm clothes, shoes, blankets, food and hot/cold refreshments. I am hoping that by the end of the fund raising period we will have raised enough to really make a difference for a few individuals who really need it.

There was a period in my life in recent years that I too was in a homeless situation and if it wasn't for a very good friend I too would have been in a very similar situation possible living on the streets. It was one of the worst times of my life, and I can really relate with what some of these guys must be going through right now with absolutely no support in place for them. At this time of year especially, no one wants to be alone or in need of a basic hot meal or food and a hot drink.

So I am asking the Just Giving community to help me raise a small amount and try to make a difference to a few lives.

Thanks