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| Cost of living: Parents ask for Calpol and baby wipes for Christmas | Cost of living: Parents ask for Calpol and baby wipes for Christmas |
| (2 months later) | |
| Christmas is supposed to be a magical time - but many children are facing up to having no present under the tree | Christmas is supposed to be a magical time - but many children are facing up to having no present under the tree |
| When children write their Christmas list to Santa, most ask for toys or books, not Calpol and baby wipes. | When children write their Christmas list to Santa, most ask for toys or books, not Calpol and baby wipes. |
| However, parents are requesting everyday household items and clothing from a support group which is aiming to provide gifts for struggling families. | However, parents are requesting everyday household items and clothing from a support group which is aiming to provide gifts for struggling families. |
| The Kindness Project in Cardiff is set to help hundreds of people this year. | The Kindness Project in Cardiff is set to help hundreds of people this year. |
| Organiser Liam Schewitz said parents were not heating their homes and going without food to feed children, meaning presents are "right on the backburner". | Organiser Liam Schewitz said parents were not heating their homes and going without food to feed children, meaning presents are "right on the backburner". |
| "It's difficult to read, some things reduce you to tears," he admitted. | "It's difficult to read, some things reduce you to tears," he admitted. |
| Christmas takes toll on young parents | Christmas takes toll on young parents |
| Vicar left in tears over community's food poverty | Vicar left in tears over community's food poverty |
| How much will Christmas dinner cost this year? | How much will Christmas dinner cost this year? |
| "We've had parents asking for Calpol, baby wipes, basic clothing for their children. Calpol. Calpol for Christmas. | "We've had parents asking for Calpol, baby wipes, basic clothing for their children. Calpol. Calpol for Christmas. |
| "We've had a lady get in touch with us, saying her baby has a dermatological condition and the kid needs Dermacare wipes, that cost £3 or £4 instead of the normal £1. That's what she wants for Christmas for her kids." | "We've had a lady get in touch with us, saying her baby has a dermatological condition and the kid needs Dermacare wipes, that cost £3 or £4 instead of the normal £1. That's what she wants for Christmas for her kids." |
| The streets of Wales' capital are usually full of Christmas shoppers this time of year, but there are others who cannot afford gifts | The streets of Wales' capital are usually full of Christmas shoppers this time of year, but there are others who cannot afford gifts |
| The Kindness Project is a community group based in Cardiff, with parents able to ask for what they want for their children, such as games and toys, with these added to an Amazon Wishlist. | The Kindness Project is a community group based in Cardiff, with parents able to ask for what they want for their children, such as games and toys, with these added to an Amazon Wishlist. |
| It was launched during what organisers believed would be the toughest Christmas for families - 2020, when the spread of Covid meant the country locked down the week before. | It was launched during what organisers believed would be the toughest Christmas for families - 2020, when the spread of Covid meant the country locked down the week before. |
| With many parents leaving present-buying until the last minute after their December pay cheque goes into their account, it left them facing a bleak time with all shops shut. | With many parents leaving present-buying until the last minute after their December pay cheque goes into their account, it left them facing a bleak time with all shops shut. |
| The group was able to help 900 children - with donations coming from businesses and the public providing them with gifts. | The group was able to help 900 children - with donations coming from businesses and the public providing them with gifts. |
| In 2021, the numbers dropped to 200, but a cost of living crisis in 2022 has seen demand go through the roof once again. | In 2021, the numbers dropped to 200, but a cost of living crisis in 2022 has seen demand go through the roof once again. |
| It is set to be a cold Christmas for many families this year, with fears over food and heating bills | It is set to be a cold Christmas for many families this year, with fears over food and heating bills |
| "I'm writing to ask for your help as I've recently had to leave my job due to ill health," said one parent. | "I'm writing to ask for your help as I've recently had to leave my job due to ill health," said one parent. |
| "I literally can't afford a single present for my three boys. I feel like a failure. The boys are very caring and help me a lot, I'd like to give them a little something." | "I literally can't afford a single present for my three boys. I feel like a failure. The boys are very caring and help me a lot, I'd like to give them a little something." |
| Mr Schewitz said it was important children wake up on Christmas morning "with their childhood intact", with 50 families helped in two days, and another 200 awaiting support from the group. | Mr Schewitz said it was important children wake up on Christmas morning "with their childhood intact", with 50 families helped in two days, and another 200 awaiting support from the group. |
| He told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast offers of help from the public had been "overwhelming", but added: "It's heartbreaking to see. | He told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast offers of help from the public had been "overwhelming", but added: "It's heartbreaking to see. |
| "We have parents where both are in work, and they can't afford to turn the heating on, can't afford to eat themselves. | "We have parents where both are in work, and they can't afford to turn the heating on, can't afford to eat themselves. |
| "The food that comes into the house is for the children, and as a result, Christmas presents for their kids, that's right on the backburner." | "The food that comes into the house is for the children, and as a result, Christmas presents for their kids, that's right on the backburner." |
| Mr Schewitz said the situation made him angry as he feels children are baring the brunt of political issues, adding: "The mental health toll on the parents who are struggling, I cannot even begin to imagine how hard it is." | Mr Schewitz said the situation made him angry as he feels children are baring the brunt of political issues, adding: "The mental health toll on the parents who are struggling, I cannot even begin to imagine how hard it is." |
| An "extremely generous donation" received on Thursday "saved Christmas for four children", according to the group's Lois Ashcroft. | An "extremely generous donation" received on Thursday "saved Christmas for four children", according to the group's Lois Ashcroft. |
| 'Reduced to tears' | 'Reduced to tears' |
| However, she said she was being "reduced to tears" both by the stories of families struggling and the kindness of people who were helping. | However, she said she was being "reduced to tears" both by the stories of families struggling and the kindness of people who were helping. |
| One of these was a request for help from a woman who lost her partner and the father to her four children recently. | One of these was a request for help from a woman who lost her partner and the father to her four children recently. |
| "My sons are age 11, seven and nearly two, and my eight-year old-daughter," she said. | "My sons are age 11, seven and nearly two, and my eight-year old-daughter," she said. |
| "Since losing him, we have also lost our home and are currently living in temporary accommodation. | "Since losing him, we have also lost our home and are currently living in temporary accommodation. |
| "After everything this year and waiting any day to start from scratch with nothing, I just want my kids to have a day where they can hopefully enjoy a day again and to see the excitement on their faces that Santa has been." | "After everything this year and waiting any day to start from scratch with nothing, I just want my kids to have a day where they can hopefully enjoy a day again and to see the excitement on their faces that Santa has been." |
| 🎄 Huge - DIOLCH YN FAWR!🎅 Residents, staff and businesses across RCT have donated an incredible amount of gifts for the RCT Santa appeal.Over 4000 gifts have been donated, a record amount!Care and compassion in the Valleys shines brighter than ever at a time of need! 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Ym6NvoTjXc | 🎄 Huge - DIOLCH YN FAWR!🎅 Residents, staff and businesses across RCT have donated an incredible amount of gifts for the RCT Santa appeal.Over 4000 gifts have been donated, a record amount!Care and compassion in the Valleys shines brighter than ever at a time of need! 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Ym6NvoTjXc |
| The more people struggle, though, the more many others are willing to help - as was also illustrated in Rhondda Cynon Taf. | The more people struggle, though, the more many others are willing to help - as was also illustrated in Rhondda Cynon Taf. |
| A record 4,000 gifts were donated to the council's Christmas appeal, with leader Andrew Morgan saying: "Care and compassion in the valleys shines brighter than ever at a time of need." | A record 4,000 gifts were donated to the council's Christmas appeal, with leader Andrew Morgan saying: "Care and compassion in the valleys shines brighter than ever at a time of need." |
| People give their time as well as their money to help at what can be a difficult month - including at the NSPCC's Childline base in Prestatyn, Denbighshire. | People give their time as well as their money to help at what can be a difficult month - including at the NSPCC's Childline base in Prestatyn, Denbighshire. |
| Volunteer Sandy Collyer, from Northop, Flintshire, said: "Christmas can be such a hard time for so many children and young people, nothing like the happy, cosy, festive images they see on television." | Volunteer Sandy Collyer, from Northop, Flintshire, said: "Christmas can be such a hard time for so many children and young people, nothing like the happy, cosy, festive images they see on television." |
| With pressure on families, both financial and emotional, children call for a variety of reasons, including conflict in the home, missing a loved one or because they feel lonely, according to Abigail Mainon, from Bodelwyddan in Denbighshire. | With pressure on families, both financial and emotional, children call for a variety of reasons, including conflict in the home, missing a loved one or because they feel lonely, according to Abigail Mainon, from Bodelwyddan in Denbighshire. |
| She has volunteered her Christmas Day, and said: "People associate Christmas with happy families, gifts and tables full of food, but that is not always the case for our young people. | She has volunteered her Christmas Day, and said: "People associate Christmas with happy families, gifts and tables full of food, but that is not always the case for our young people. |
| "While I cannot fix these issues directly or give every child the Christmas they deserve, I can give them my time." | "While I cannot fix these issues directly or give every child the Christmas they deserve, I can give them my time." |
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| Related Topics | |
| Christmas | |
| Northop | |
| NSPCC | |
| Cost of living | |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council |