Sharing the spirit of Christmas

THE spirit of Christmas is alive and well at Turning Lives Around with gifts being both donated to us and by us to support those in need.

Our corporate partners and supporters have generously bought extra Christmas presents and goodies and donated them to our clients including more than 200 gifts from leading credit management specialists Lowell whose giving tree enabled their colleagues to take a label from its branches and turn it into a present to go underneath.

Their gifts are going to clients and families supported by both our young people’s service, Our Way Leeds, and Beacon Leeds which supports adults with multiple disadvantages accommodated in our Intensive Support Environments and community-based properties.

Elsewhere, Wakefield planners, architects and masterplanners, Spawforths, have donated chocolate, biscuits and crackers which are making up festive hampers to give residents at our Woodside service in Normanton a sweet treat this Christmas and sneaker specialists, Dan’s Deals UK, have dropped off presents at Lowell House for our MyGaff clients to support the five young people living there.

Meanwhile clients and colleagues at TLA’s Woodside service have been helping Santa and his elves by collecting toys to brighten up Christmas for local families in need. Woodside provides recovery focused housing and support for adults with mental ill health who are homeless, many of whom, regularly use the food bank operated by The Well Project in Normanton, a community centred charity providing positive activities for all.

Along with colleagues, the clients have developed a good relationship with the project team and as a way of giving back for the support they have received themselves, have organised a toy appeal at Woodside, resulting in a mass of toys that have been given to the food bank to be passed on to children in Normanton whose families are struggling this Christmas.

“We are so proud of everyone at Woodside for embodying the spirit of Christmas and taking the initiative to support others with their toy appeal,” said TLA CEO Steve Hoey.

“Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to donate gifts for our clients this year – they are much appreciated. Christmas can be a tough time of year, especially for those experiencing homelessness. A gift can go a long way to brightening up someone’s day and making them feel remembered and valued.”