What Christmas really means

This time of year always holds a strange balance for me – I love Christmas, I get excited to plan family gatherings, eagerly waiting to see what Santa will deliver, getting time to relax and enjoy a few weeks away from the desk (as much as I love my job, I do love a recharge!)

?

I know how lucky I am that this is my Christmas experience.

?

For so many families this isn’t the case, the worry and panic starts creeping in once the kids go back to school. The evenings get darker and colder and the heat and electricity bills start to rise. Worries about what can be arranged for under the tree, and can we have a turkey this year? Can we make Christmas magical? Those are the questions the families Barnardos support start asking as soon as the we make it to September.

?

Once the 1st September hits, we know that we have a huge task ahead of us in Barnardos to reach as many families as we can with as much support as we can in the 12 weeks to Christmas. Barnardos is there all year round, working with families on whatever challenge is being faced – bereavement, homelessness, domestic violence, and so much more. Add in financial worries in the run up to Christmas to the mix and it can become a melting pot of anxiety.

?

We worked with 26,000 children and families last year. That was a mammoth 25% increase on the year before. AND there are still 2,000 families on our waiting list in need of support. We have incredible partners, supporters and donors who never cease to amaze me with their support, they give and invest and trust Barnardos to carry out our work in 56 services around Ireland. And we will keep working to change their story.

?

So this Giving Day, I’m not asking for a donation but instead am offering a thank you. Thank you for everything you helped us achieve this year and for everything I know we can achieve in 2025. Because Childhood Lasts a Lifetime.

#BecauseChildhoodLastsALifetime Barnardos Ireland #GivingTuesdayIreland