Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – to a better 2021!
Well December has proved to be a busy end to the most bizarre year. A year full of challenges, stress and uncertainty for many but as we end this year we have A LOT to celebrate at Rebuild. In December alone…
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Christmas Connection
This year, thanks to the DCM Christmas Connection scheme, we have been able to provide presents to 17 parents we work with, to give to their children this Christmas. This makes such a difference to the families we support! Last year one mum told us that the presents she received meant she no longer had to make a choice between buying presents or food for Christmas.
Christmas Hampers
We were succ essful with a small pot of funding from Western Power which allowed us to create these fab festive hampers for the individuals and families we support to bring some festive cheer at the end of such a crazy year. We wanted to share the kindness round so managed to stretch the funding out to be able to also make some smaller hamper bags for those being supported by our colleagues at Ashiana through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in the city. Excitingly, 45 hampers/bags were distributed this week.
In addition to the hampers, some lovely locals, who were directed to us by the Derby Women’s Centre, donated toiletries and other bits that we were able give away with the hampers. For many of those we support this will be the only gift they receive this Christmas and we want them to know they are valued and remembered this Christmas.
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“Thank you so much for the Christmas present, my kids will be very happy. I feel happy to. You are the only ones who think about us.
I appreciate everything you do for us.
Thank you…”
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Christmas Craft Support
We have not been running face to face group sessions since back in March, when everything stopped. After much planning and preparing to ensure we were able to deliver COVID safe sessions, we ran a couple of craft support sessions for small groups in December. Anne did a great job of creating individual packs for each participant including some wreath making one week.
The aim of these sessions was to reduce isolation and boost mental wellbeing through activities and the opportunity to be together. Despite the masks and the distance, these were relaxing and enjoyable sessions.
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Funding
We had a great first fundraising initiative in December, raising £12,600 through the Big Give Christmas Challenge. We were also successful with 4 grants in December that we will be telling you more about in the coming months. This will help us to continue to support individuals and their families in 2021.
Individuals like Jenny:
When Jenny* first came to Rebuild she was very isolated, scared to meet new people and lacking in confidence. Over the weeks and months that followed, Jenny grew in confidence and began to thrive in the Rebuild groups. However, the strain of not knowing what the future would hold was wearing, and having a detrimental impact on her overall wellbeing. In August 2020, Jenny was told she could stay in the UK indefinitely, and this week she got the keys to her new house; caseworkers have been busily supporting her to gather furniture, sort out utilities, and get ready so she can move in before Christmas. For Jenny, having the keys to her first home means she can start to properly hope for the future.
*not real name
We could not have achieved the above without the support of many of you!
Thank you for all your support – whatever it might have been this year. We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and we are hopeful for a better 2021!
From Lesley, Anne, Anna, Naila and Diane (The Rebuild Team)
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