We're bringing festive cheer to adults in supported accommodation in Cornwall.
Caroline Davies, our Coordinator for Referrals of Supported Housing, recognised that adults being supported may not receive gifts this year and the team wanted to support adults in supported accommodation in the county.
Colleagues working at Carthew House, St Austell, and New Horizons wanted to ensure the best possible Christmas for all the families LiveWest is currently supporting there.
The housing provider linked up with one of its partners, Jewson Partnership Solutions, who provided 33 toiletries sets as Christmas presents and they wrapped them for residents to receive.
Caroline Davies said: “Harley Creear, my co-worker, who works for Carthew House said the girls were so happy to have some gifts for themselves, it made them feel valued.
“As a worker for New Horizons think this was a very generous gift from Jewson and really appreciated by all our residents.
“For New Horizons, people may have left traumatic situations and are starting new lives often in other parts of the country where they don’t know many people and they bring very little with them but a small number of personal possessions. They appreciate this care for them and the fact the adults have been given individual gifts.“
Carthew House residents and their children had a Christmas party on December 14, and they opened the gifts there. Support workers from the scheme said the residents were grateful for the gifts and some felt it was lovely to have something for themselves not just their children.
James Chambers, Jewson Partnership Solution Account Manager for the South West, said: “At JPS, we are committed to supporting local communities, and it has been wonderful working with LiveWest on some amazing projects in 2022. When LiveWest told us about the adults in Supported Housing in Cornwall, we were delighted to be able to offer some gifts. We look forward to working with LiveWest on more exciting projects in 2023.”
Children and Young People services also gave toy boxes in its services which were donated from the KidsOut charity and get in touch with places like LiveWest who work with supporting vulnerable children.
They provide days out but also give different unisex boxes throughout the year and Christmas boxes with new toys for families which eases the pressure they may be facing.
When families come into the service, they get one when they arrive at the accommodation as some come with little belongings and also one at Christmas. Colleagues distribute to families who need them, and parents can wrap them up for children.
Sacha Hambley, our Children and Young Person Support Worker, said: “As a worker I would like to thank KidsOut because being able to provide that for families especially this time of year is brilliant.
“I’m just delivering them, but I get the beauty of it because I get to see the children receive year-round boxes particularly when you come with nothing and have the bare minimum in the service and the big difference it can make.
“I would like to recognise all of the work they’re doing and all the work that goes on there to be able to deliver that service to us and others across the country.”