Category Archives: Support Given

Our Year in a Snapshot

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It’s been another tough year for local families. We have been inundated with referrals for beds, mattresses, toys, clothing, washing machines, toiletries, birthday & Christmas gifts, and most of all, food shopping. Families are living in severe poverty, and some have also gone through domestic violence, child neglect or abuse. It’s heart breaking, but with your help, we have managed to provide for them, and get them through another year. Some of the Christmas referrals are below – we provided Christmas gifts and food for these families.

“You have made my year so much better – you’re angels. I was panicking and feeling so bad – I told them they would have to wait until after Christmas, and now they don’t. Thank you xxxxx” This family even didn’t even have underwear!!

“Family referral from local school – parents aren’t eating, so their children can.”

“Family have been given a Section 21 notice. They have no money for food or Christmas presents. Child has very complex health needs – can’t afford to run car to get child to appointments.”

“School contacted Children’s Services as this mother only had 50p in her bank account. UC had been stopped “

“Family where the two children are young carers for their mum “

“Family living in temporary accommodation – children have birthdays in December, as well as the worry for Christmas”

“Mother moved with two young children due to domestic violence”

“Single parent who has severe mental health needs – father’s financial support stopped due to losing job – no money for Christmas”

“Children on child protection plan”

“Parent broke down in tears at a school meeting as she is struggling financially. Received an eviction notice early December due to Landlord selling property”

“Family fled domestic abuse and following a period on the refuge were given long term temporary accommodation”

So – Thank you all for your support – we couldn’t do this without you. Your generosity and kindness continues to overwhelm us, especially as the cost of living affects us all.

We hope you all have a lovely Christmas, and a Happy New Year

Anna & Lynn xxx

Mum’s Not Having Dinner Again – She Says She’s Not Hungry

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June 2024

We are receiving so many sad requests for food shops. These are a few of the responses from this week alone:-

Conversation with Mum of 3-

“It’s so bad at the moment I’m really struggling”

“How much do you usually have to spend on your 3 children?”

“About £40- £50 once the rent etc goes out, I normally just buy the cheap food from Aldi”

Mum of 4 children:-

“110 pounds fortnightly 😒 That’s just on food, yes for us all -meals, nappies wipes. Toiletries I get separately from other shops. 😒“

Family of 4:-

“We have £50 a week (2 teenagers and parents) to spend on food. My husband works part time as he and our children my carers 😒

“So you have £200 for food a month, and use the foodbank ?”

“Yes, and the school help and give me meals that they have left over”

WHEN WILL THIS END? WE COULD RANT ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT; AND THE HUGE PROFITS SUPERMARKETS ARE MAKING – BUT WE WILL STAY PROFESSIONAL!!

Children are suffering, going hungry, which is affecting their mental health; welfare; education; friendships. If anyone can support us by making a regular donation (even £1-2 a month), we can continue to provide food shops for these families. We get countless referrals every day. We run the charity in our spare time, with no funding, so every penny really does make a difference. If you look at our Charity Accounts online – we pride ourselves on not taking expenses, and running the charity purely on a voluntary basis.

If your workplace could hold a charity event; or your school could run a sponsored event; or you can donate a small amount on a personal level, it would be gratefully received by ourselves and the families we support.

THANK YOU

10 Years of Supporting Families in Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

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June 2024

Wow! We are so proud to have reached this milestone. The two of us run the Charity in our spare time. We don’t always have the time to put posts on here, but we are actively receiving daily referrals from Social Workers, Midwives, Pastoral Support Workers, Police Liaison Officers etc. Providing food shops (we spent over £12,000 last year on food shops alone); beds, bedding, washing machines, fridges/fridge freezers, toys, clothing, baby equipment, birthday and Christmas presents etc.

We run purely on donations, with no Government support. The cost of living has impacted so many people in our Community, not only through increased poverty, but increased domestic violence, mental health illness, and suicides. We can only keep providing this service with support from local businesses and individuals.

How else can you help?

Could your school hold a sponsored event for us?

Could your workplace choose us as their Charity to support?

Could you set up a monthly donation to us (even £1.00 helps)?

Thank you for being with us for the last 10 years – we couldn’t do this without you!

Anna & Lynn xx

Update on our Latest Referrals

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Apologies for the lack of posts – busy busy busy. Over the last 2 months, we have provided:-
Household items due to domestic violence; School uniform due to poverty, and children unable to attend school; a cotbed mattress due to child neglect; 12 weekly Food shops, reasons varying from being in temporary accommodation, poverty and child neglect; toys/nappies/moses basket for a 4 month old baby in poverty; a single bed for a child on the at risk register; 8no Birthday presents for children in poverty, who would otherwise have not received a birthday present; school uniform for a child due to Domestic Violence and abuse; Baby equipment for a newborn baby born into poverty; toys and toiletries for a large family in poverty; Beds, bedding, furniture for a family in poverty who have been re-housed; fridge freezer, washing machine, microwave for a family in emergency accommodation due to domestic violence; Uniform and foodshop for a family who escaped domestic violence and had to move to a new area; Clothing vouchers for young carers in poverty; Buggy, nappies, and food vouchers for a young mum in poverty; Nappies and clothing for young child who’s mum fled area due to threats to kill; Double bed for a parent sleeping on the floor; Clothing and bed for a child in need; Fridge freezer and bed for a family in poverty; a bed for a child who has left the care system; Double bed for a family in crisis; Curtains for a family who have escaped domestic violence and lived in fear; nappies, food, and baby milk for a baby at risk; Baby milk for a baby living in temporary accommodation; a Stairgate for safeguarding reasons; a folding bed for a mum living in temporary accommodation; a microwave, toys and baby bouncer for a baby who’s mum had fled domestic violence; mattress protectors, microwave and clothing for a family in poverty; a moses basket, sheets, nappies, and baby clothes for a referral from a Safeguarding Midwife; Double bed for a dad who left a refuge; Kitchen equipment, bedding, towels & hoover for a family who had been homeless; Fridge Freezer for a family who had fled domestic violence; School shoes for two children in poverty; Duvet for a young dad who has been housed; Clothing for child due to neglect – (parent’s substance abuse) and Toys and clothing for children being safeguarded.
We have also received referrals for hundreds of children for Christmas gifts – these are children who would otherwise go without a gift on Christmas morning.
As most of you will be aware; two of us run this charity in our spare time; so funding is essential for us to keep going. We receive no Government or Council funding at all. The food shops cost around £100 per family; and you can see above how many we have provided. If anyone can sponsor us; hold a fundraising event etc – this will enable us to carry on through 2023.
Thank you to all our supporters – both individuals and Companies – you know who you are!!
local

Poverty Getting Worse for Local Families

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2022 has already brought a huge increase in poverty for many families. In February, we provided:-
18 weekly food shops – reasons range from poverty, covid health issues, mental health, children in need, sexual abuse (had to move area with very little). cap in benefits
A CD player – for a child with special needs
3 Fridge Freezers – reasons range from poverty, domestic violence, and moved from a hostel
2 Washing Machines – reasons range from cancer diagnosis (causing poverty due to not working) and a family leaving the refuge
Toys & Games – for a child who had come out of care back to their parent
School shoes for a child in poverty
A dehumidifier – for a family in temporary accommodation and had a child with health needs
14 mattresses – reasons range from domestic violence, recent bereavement, recently homelessness, poverty
2 x Double Beds – Due to poverty
Bedding – reasons range from poverty, neglect, abuse and domestic violence
Clothing for a teenager in poverty
Single Bed – child sleeping on the floor
Toiletries – a family in poverty, teenagers had no toiletry products
Hoover – family in poverty, and a family who had been through domestic violence
A toddler bed for a family in poverty (child sleeping on mattress with parent on the floor)
3 sets of bunks beds – reasons due to poverty, domestic violence and neglect
Toddler clothing – following domestic violence, had to flee area
Baby Cot, bedding and sleep grow bags – For a baby living with young parent in assisted living
Stairgates – Due to neglect and poverty
Cot bed – for a family who’s toddler child was still sleeping in a cot
We wouldn’t be able to provide this service without ongoing support from all the local families and Companies, and we thank you so much!!!
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The Must Have Children’s Book

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Nikki Cadby from Rustic & Retro Cakery has always supported us with cakes and fundraisers. We are proud to be able to share some support for her. She featured in this weeks “Local Trader of the Week” in Bournemouth Echo, and is currently promoting the fantastic children’s book written by her Therapist, aimed at helping children understand their emotions and how they deal with different situations in their lives.
One of our youngest volunteers (Anna’s granddaughter Beatrix) has a copy of the book, and can’t wait to start reading it, and tucking into the cakes!!
Take a look at the link for purchasing the book; and also the raffle being held by Nikki (Link further down our page).
Picture below showing Nikki on the left and Beverley Davies (Author) on the right
book2 book1 book

New Year – Same Problems

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It’s been a tough few years for local families, and this is sadly continuing into 2022. With Covid and an increase in unemployment, mental health, domestic violence, utility bills etc, it has had a huge impact.
Over the last few weeks, we have provided the following:-
Mattress for a child sleeping on the floor (Mental health/poverty)
Food shop for a family unable to afford this due to high heating costs
A big increase in referrals from DWP, Universal Credits and desperate parents – requesting food/beds etc
Food shop for a family with a special needs child and no food in the cupboard
A baby monitor for a mum about to be made homeless, with a newborn
Cot, mattress and bedding for a child with special needs who had destroyed theirs and was sleeping on a broken cot base
A door monitor and personal alarms for a parent and child who had been through domestic violence
Food shop for a family who had all been self isolating due to covid and had no money for food
A family who had no gas or electric on their pay meter, no food and no school shoes. We provided a large food shop and shoes so they are now able to attend school
A fridge freezer for a family who had been through domestic violence and were re-homed with no fridge/freezer provided
A cotbed for a child still sleeping in a moses basket due to poverty
Stairgates and baby items – due to a home being smashed up by a family member and these items being destroyed
Food and essential toiletries to a family who were struggling to pay their bills
A birthday gift for a child who had been through domestic violence and parent had no access to funds
We are so grateful to you all for supporting us. We currently have limited availability for donations – so will ask for specific items on here if they are required.
If you are able to organise fundraisers for us through your workplace etc, this would be amazing – two of us run the charity in our spare time, so every £1 really does make a huge difference. THANK YOU
May be an image of one or more people and text that says 'WORRIED ABOUT PARENTS UNHAPPY FRUSTRATED ANXIOUS EXCLUDED CONSTRAINED CONFLICTED EMBARRASSED FEW OPPORTUNITIES WORTHLESS HOPELESS SOCIAL INSECURITY HOW POVERTY FEELS TO CHILDREN INSECURE, OVERCROWDED HOMES NO PLACE FOR HOMEWORK OR PLAY ASPIRATIONS HOPES AND DREAMS IMPORTANT RESILIENCE BULLIED JUDGED TEACHERS DON'T UNDERSTAND NO SCHOOL TRIPS'

Mission Christmas Makes Christmas Happen

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With the continued support of Wave 105 Mission Christmas and other local Companies and individuals, we fulfilled all Christmas gift referrals received. These were purely for children who would otherwise go without a gift. Reasons varied from children living in poverty, or who have been subject to neglect, abuse, or been through domestic violence.
Some of the feedback we received – “I just wanted to say a big thank you, I gave out all the Christmas presents last week to the vulnerable families, they were all so grateful and wanted me to pass on their appreciation, so thank you, it really does make a huge difference to these families “
“I am wondering if you can help with any gifts for a toddler and his baby sister. The family have recently been evicted (through no fault of their own) and their benefits have been delayed due to an administrative error. They are currently living in a B&B”
“I know this is late notice before Christmas but this family has only just been allocated to me and they are really struggling financially and have written off Christmas this year. I was hoping we could maybe give them something so they could still have a Christmas meal and gifts”
Without all this support, we wouldn’t be able to provide for struggling families in our local area – so THANK YOU!!!
Wave Mission Christmas 2021