Christmas Appeal
This Christmas, we’ll listen to every young person who calls us for help. With your donation, you can ensure that they’re not alone.
Every child needs stability, support, and love. But far too many children in care and care-experienced young people are being failed by our care system.
Children are being moved far away, forced to change schools, and are separated from siblings. Too many are then expected to leave care before they feel ready, often on their 18th birthday. Feeling alone is all too common, especially at Christmas.
“On Christmas Day, I remember lying on my bed wearing all the clothes I owned to try to keep warm. It was so cold, I could see my own breath”
This Christmas, we’ll listen to every young person who calls us for help – with their mental health, their education, keeping a roof over their heads – whatever challenge they’re facing, we will support them. With your donation, you can ensure that they’re not alone.
Your support is needed more than ever before:
82%
of care-experienced young people struggled to afford food.
Almost half
of all children in care are living outside their local authority area.
54%
increase in homelessness among young care leavers over the last 5 years.
Jennifer's story
Jennifer went into care at the age of 14, and as a Type 1 diabetic, found that she would use her diabetes as a coping mechanism.
“During my first year of university while I was in student accommodation, during holiday periods such as Christmas and Easter, I would be alone in empty halls while everyone else went back home to their families…
The realisation struck me that if my blood sugars were to drop too low or go too high, or if I had a seizure or slipped into a coma, there would be no one to notice or come and knock on my door to check I was okay.”
In her second year of university, Jennifer found herself homeless due to a problem with the council and was placed in temporary accommodation with vulnerable adults over Christmas.
“On Christmas Day, I remember lying on my bed wearing all the clothes I owned to try to keep warm. It was so cold, I could see my own breath.
“I just stared at my door and wondered how I would defend myself if someone broke in because my lock was broken”
Jennifer was slowly able to start rebuilding her life, completing a Masters in global public health, and began working with organisations such as Become.
“Using my voice to help empower other people gives my experiences a purpose and makes me feel it was not all for nothing because I am using it to try to change things”
At Become, we work with young people to share their stories and raise awareness of the issues care-experienced young people so often face.
“Become have a genuine interest in young people and support them as well as using their experiences constructively to bring about change. They also give young people opportunities to gain skills and take up training and help them have a better future”
Your donation will help to provide care-experienced young people with vital advice, community, and practical support this Christmas.
- £10 could help a child in care stay in touch with brothers or sisters living apart from them.
- £25 could give Christmas dinner to a young person who recently left care.
- £30 could provide an isolated young care leaver with regular phone calls over the Christmas period.
- £50 could pay for employment coaching to help someone leaving care find a job.
- £100 could provide one-to-one guidance for a young person applying to university.
- £250 could provide advocacy for a young person who has recently left care into long-term, stable accommodation with holistic support through our Care Advice Service.
Other ways to donate
You can pay in your donation directly into our bank using these details:
Account Name: Become Charity,
Bankers: Unity Trust Bank,
Sort Code: 60-83-01
Account Number: 54000645
