October is a little early to be talking about Christmas, but planning something spectacular takes time…and we are hoping you can help us do just that.

Each year groups of volunteers gather all over the UK to put on a warm, welcoming and wonderful Christmas Day for care leavers; including here in Manchester where we’ll host our 5th event this year.

Care Leavers are young people who have spent time living apart from their families in foster or residential care. They can be vulnerable young adults, and may not necessarily have anywhere to go on Christmas Day, with many spending it alone in a bedsit or hostel. We’d like to change that.

This year, the Lemn Sissay Foundation is helping to facilitate dinners for over 400 young people in locations across the UK, including for 50 here in Manchester. We need to raise £25k by 1 December. We have launched a crowdfunder to help do this. If you can help in any way, or if you know any organisations who might be able to help with financial support, please share the Crowdfunder link.

You can also help by buying a small stocking filler for a guest who is attending through this Amazon gift list (prices start from just £2).

Lemn said: “Many care leavers are sat in flats, B&B’s and hostels, away from family, or sofa surfing and some are indeed living on the streets on their own at Christmas. Christmas is a reminder of everything they never had… I know because I’ve shared their experiences… But since 2013, thanks to passionate groups of volunteers supported by generous donations, we’ve been able to put on a scrumptious Christmas meals and create a magical days to remember, at a secret locations across the UK. The Christmas Dinners will be a life-changing and life-saving experience.”

You can learn more about the Christimas dinners on the Facebook group or contact elk@manchester.ac.uk.