Give a Gift this Christmas!
- Nov 15, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 19, 2023
And deliver a smile to hundreds of disadvantaged local children and young people
Everyone deserves to feel special at Christmas and what better way than to receive a present? Yet we know some children and young people in Barnet are living in poverty, with the pandemic only increasing the challenges and pressures placed on struggling families.
Since 2018, Young Barnet Foundation has collaborated with its partners and members to distribute 3,360 gifts to disadvantaged children and young people including refugees and those in care.
Our members include local charities, social enterprises, and community and faith groups who provide much-needed support and services for the most disadvantaged children and young people living in the borough.
Young Barnet Foundation CEO Janet Matthewson said, “With the help of our members and partners, and the generosity of the Barnet community, we have an opportunity to deliver a smile to hundreds of local children and young people this Christmas.”
“As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ - or in our case, a borough - and we encourage anyone who is in a position to support this campaign to do so in whatever small way they can.”
Here’s how you can get involved:
Donate a gift
You can send toys, games, and books to the following address: Young Barnet Foundation, Old East Barnet Library, 85 Brookhill Road, Barnet EN4 8SG. While the preference is to distribute new gifts, pre-owned items in good condition are also welcome.
Make a financial donation
Any money raised for the Christmas Campaign will be used to purchase presents in bulk and at discounted rates to ensure even more gifts can be distributed.
Volunteer as a gift wrapper
Last year volunteers helped wrap over 1,880 presents and Young Barnet Foundation will again be holding several fun and festive giftwrapping sessions in East Barnet in the run up to Christmas
Shop with Amazon?
If you register with Amazon Smile (smile.amazon.co.uk) and select Young Barnet Foundation as your chosen charity, they will receive a small percentage of your purchase as a donation at no extra cost to yourself!
Spread the word!
Tell your friends and family about the campaign - or perhaps even organise a collection with your colleagues/neighbours.
To donate or sign up as a volunteer, visit youngbarnetfoundation.org.uk/christmascampaign
I was looking for a meaningful way to give back this Christmas after reading about how many kids go without presents. A friend suggested donating toys, but I also wanted to find something personal for my own family gifts. She told me that personalized items always feel more thoughtful than generic store buys. I spent some time online reading reviews and forums about what makes a gift truly special. If you want to give something that shows you really care, check out personalized leather gift ideas. A monogrammed wallet or keychain lasts for years and feels unique every single time.
This is such a meaningful initiative, and it's got me thinking about how we can each contribute in our own way. I've recently gotten into 3D printing as a hobby, mostly making articulated dragons and little figurines for my nephews. It struck me that I could spend this month printing extra toys to donate. There's something special about receiving a handful of 3d printed items that someone took hours to craft layer by layer. I've been finding great models on Gambody, which has an incredible library of gaming-inspired designs that older kids especially would love. A custom-printed character from their favourite game might feel more personal than something mass-produced. If anyone else has access to a printer, consider making a…