This year has been challenging for so many people not least young people who have left care and young asylum seekers. Hundreds of young people live on their own in Warwickshire and don’t have any...
This year has been challenging for so many people not least young people who have left care and young asylum seekers. Hundreds of young people live on their own in Warwickshire and don’t have any family to give them support, which often makes Christmas a particularly hard time.
Norma Wilson, however, is determined to spread some festive cheer to this group by giving each of them a Christmas hamper filled with goodies donated by residents, different community groups including charities and football clubs as well as bigger organisations such as supermarkets. Norma used to be a foster carer for Warwickshire County Council (WCC) and started putting together Christmas hampers for care leavers 25 years ago in Rugby, since then it has grown each year and she now provides hampers for young care leavers and asylum seekers across the county. In 2020, Norma is expecting to give out 230 hampers as well as an additional 50 for the children of care leavers. Norma starts putting the hampers together from October and they include everything from biscuits, toiletries, long life food, mince pies and more. Those who have babies or young children also get an additional hamper that they can give to their little ones on Christmas morning which includes clothing, some essential items and knitted toys made by a group of local women. This is a huge help for many young care leavers and asylum seekers as often they can’t afford presents for their children.
Talking about the hampers, Norma said: “After such a difficult year, spreading some festive cheer is more important now than ever. I’ve been amazed with how many donations we’ve received; I think it’s the most we’ve ever got!
“I just think this year must have been awful for so many of the young care leavers and asylum seekers. Many of them have no money and no family and then with the pandemic they can’t even go out, you can’t imagine it. Just to be able to brighten up their day with a hamper is something that hopefully brings a smile to their face and makes a small difference.”
The Christmas hampers are all named before being given out to the young people by council social worker. Norma also includes a Christmas card in each of the hampers signed off ‘From Norma, and people who care.’
To make sure every care leaver has some nice food and presents to enjoy over the Christmas period, the council is also funding up to £3,000 worth of food and presents. Warwickshire County Councillor, Jeff Morgan Portfolio Holder for Childrens Services, said:
“The effort and contribution that Norma has made to our care leavers and asylum seekers across Warwickshire over the last 25 years is simply outstanding.
“At Warwickshire County Council we put children at the heart of everything we do, what Norma does is such an amazing example of this. The hampers quite literally take over her whole house - her commitment to providing something special for Christmas for vulnerable young people is incredible and we cannot thank Norma enough for everything she does.”
Norma’s act of kindness is one example of the many things people can do to support themselves and each other at this time. For ideas and support please follow the county council advent calendar at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/adventcalendar or follow the council on Instagram #KindWarwickshire.
For more information on care leavers, visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/leavingcare
For more information on young asylum seekers, visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/children-families/unaccompanied-asylum-seeking-children-warwickshire/1
If you would like to find out more about fostering for Warwickshire, visit https://fostering.warwickshire.gov.uk/