# Charities, businesses & volunteers combine to bring Christmas to London’s vulnerable

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/12/08/charities-businesses-volunteers-combine-bring-christmas-londons-vulnerable/
- Published: 2020-12-08T08:30:23+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Charities are combining forces in London this Christmas along with volunteers 
and businesses in a collective effort to support vulnerable residents over the holiday
season.**

 

The [Kensington and Chelsea Christmas Collective](https://www.whatifchristmas.com/)
includes [Age UK](https://www.ageuk.org.uk/), the NHS Grenfell Health and Wellbeing
Service, mental health charity [SMART](https://www.smartlondon.org.uk/), The Dalgarno
Trust, Dads House and Venture Community Association.

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It will be targeting its support to families on free school meals, elderly people,
vulnerable adults and the homeless with two core initiatives:

 

1.      _Christmas in a _Box: Prepared meals, grocery items and Christmas gifts 
will be delivered to the doors of those in need, following social distancing guidelines,
with items sourced from providers including Waitrose and Partners, Furloughed Foodies
and the Restaurant Association.

 

2.      _Christmas Entertainment_: [A programme](http://www.whatifchristmas.com)
of travelling local choirs and activities including films and dinners will visit
various areas of the Borough – following social distancing guidelines.

 

 

 

**Editor’s note:** _the video previously embedded here (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=44k2eh535FM) is no longer available._

 

 

 

The bags of food and gifts will be delivered to families on free school meals, homeless
people and vulnerable individuals supported by local charities or identified by 
local people, with schools helping the Christmas Collective to get the word out 
to families with children on free school meals.

 

The initiative aims to deliver 4000 boxes to those in need this Christmas and to
raise a total of £130,000 for both this winter’s initiatives and for ongoing support
in 2021, accessible via an [online fundraising platform](https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?campaignId=14720&charityId=1018629).

 

Amelia Mustapha, Director of SMART, commented:

 

>  “The Christmas Collective is hoping to bring back the true spirit of Christmas
> at a really critical time. Our aim is to make sure everyone has a warm heart from
> the opportunity to give or receive and a full tummy. We will provide a festive
> meal and gifts, information about support available and tokens of the love we 
> have for each other. The travelling choir and our other activities like the outdoor
> cinemas will bring joy to the streets in a Covid-friendly way.”

 * **[In Kind Direct appeals for Real Christmas Must Haves](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/11/08/in-kind-direct-appeals-for-real-christmas-must-haves/)**(
   8 November 2021)
 * **[Aldi seeks good causes to receive surplus Christmas & New Year food](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/11/09/aldi-seeks-good-causes-to-receive-surplus-christmas-new-year-food/)**(
   9 November 2021)
 * **[Finances difficult but most want to donate this Christmas, survey indicates](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/12/08/finances-difficult-but-most-want-to-donate-this-christmas-survey-indicates/)**(
   8 December 2021)