Help create memories that will last a lifetime as the Ellesmere Port Christmas Dinner returns

Planning is underway for a Christmas Day delivery service for local care leavers across Cheshire West and Chester making sure they don't feel alone on Christmas Day.

Following on from the success of the last two years (2018 & 2019), The Christmas Dinners is an annual project founded by the poet Lemn Sissay MBE for communities to provide an amazing Christmas Day for care leavers aged between 18 and 25 – one they’ll never forget.

The Christmas Dinners is itself not a charity or a Social Enterprise, nor an organisation - it's a project organised entirely by an independent group of volunteers to create magic and memories on Christmas Day that will last a lifetime. 

Christmas 2020: Defying COVID-19

Christmas 2020 is going to be unlike any other. Undeterred, Christmas Dinner steering groups across the country have met the challenge of lockdowns and local regulations with imagination and style.  While there may be no sit-down meals, it doesn’t mean that we can’t make Christmas Day special.

Action Transport Theatre – a charity and young people’s organisation are once again leading the Ellesmere Port Christmas Dinner – they will be organising presents and food hampers to be delivered on Christmas Day.

"Some people would have had nothing today and I would have been one of them - unless this got organised! People who get nothing got looked after today..." - Charlie, Care Leaver, previous Dinner guest

The event now runs nationally with many other dinners taking place across the UK was inspired by poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay, who spent much of his childhood in care and recognised that young people who had been raised in foster care or care homes often lacked support once they left the care system aged 18. 

" It's fantastic to be supporting this group of young people again. Although the pandemic has meant that we can’t celebrate the festivities as normal, we can still try to make Christmas as special as possible and create a day to remember…’ – Councillor Nicole Meardon

We are also really thrilled to have the support of Madlug this year- the #1 UK bag brand that helps you give dignity to children in care. They are launching their Christmas Campaign asking for donations of £30 to cover the costs of a quality backpack plus foldaway bag, as a gift for young people who have left the care system instead of having to use bin bags to carry their personal belongings in.

We are also thrilled to have the support from Manchester based bakery company St Pierre who will be donating fresh produce for the food hampers.

Your commitment is what makes The Christmas Dinner happen. Your belief in community is what makes this happen. Your determination to make a difference is what makes this happen. Your perseverance is what makes this happen.

Let’s make this happen.

How can you help?

·         More information  http://www.actiontransporttheatre.org/ellesmereportxmasdinner  

·         Donate to fundraising page via https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-ellesmere-port-christmas-dinner-delivery-2020

·         Buy a bag from Madlug - here is a video more about the company - https://www.madlug.com/pages/our-story

·         Local Businesses or volunteers interested in supporting – please email: ellesmereportxmasdinner@gmail.com  

·         Follow & Share on social media –

o   Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPortXmasDinner

o   Instagram: @EPortXmasDinner

o   Facebook: Ellesmere Port Christmas Dinner Campaign 

Previous quotes:

"Today has been an amazing day and I'm happy I got invited ‘cos I would have been sat at home on my own. I've had a very stressful year and this has cheered me up a lot so I want to thank you all very much"
Shauna, Young Care Leaver & Christmas Dinner Guest 2018

"Some people would have had nothing today, I would have been one of them, unless this got organised. People who get nothing got looked after today"
Charlie, Young Care Leaver & Christmas Dinner Guest 2018

"Helping to give the young people a Christmas Day where they felt valued and cared for was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Being able to give my time on this special day to those who might otherwise be alone is what the true spirit of Christmas is about and seeing the joy it brought is something I will never forget"
Deborah, Christmas Day Volunteer 2018

“It was a privilege to support the care leavers Christmas dinner in 2018.  Knowing there is a need for support for care leavers in the Borough is one thing but actually trying to make a difference to these young people is fantastic to see, and bringing some Christmas cheer was something incredible to be part of.  Qwest helped sponsor the day and two of our team went further and helped set up on Christmas eve and our Operations Director was there on Christmas day”
Denise Whiteland, Qwest

“We would like to encourage anyone who is considering helping with the Christmas Day Dinner for care leavers to go ahead and get involved. We are lucky to have many grandchildren, most of whom are between 18 and 23 years of age, just like the care leavers involved with this event. They are lucky to have the support of their family. But many young people, through no fault of their own, do not. They are the same people with different chances and different outcomes. All young people deserve to be supported. You will be rewarded by being involved in a very special day with very special people.”
Jane and Steve, Christmas Day Volunteers 2018