Shining a Light on Care Leavers This Christmas: How You Can Support Our Appeal

For most of us, Christmas is a time of warmth, connection, and belonging — a chance to come home, to be surrounded by family, laughter, and love.

But for too many young people leaving the care system, Christmas looks and feels very different. Dipika Kaushal, Chief Executive Officer, explains what we're doing to support them this year.

Each year, across Kirklees and beyond, there is a group of young people who step into adulthood without the safety net that many of us take for granted.

Known as care leavers, they’ve spent part or all of their childhood in the care of their local authority — in foster care, residential care, or other forms of support —but are now leaving that system and learning to navigate life on their own.

When December arrives, they may not have a family to visit, a table to sit around or even a home that feels like their own. The festive lights and adverts that promise togetherness can end up being painful reminders of what’s missing — leaving many feeling left out, unseen and alone.

At Northorpe Hall Child + Family Trust, we absolute privilege of meeting incredible young people who have faced more in their early years than most of us will in a lifetime. They are resilient, independent, and determined — but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel the ache of loneliness or uncertainty, especially during the holidays.

This year, on what will be our 10^th Christmas Appeal, we have decided as a team to put a spotlight on care leavers. With the generous support from our local communities and businesses we will be putting together Holiday Hampers for care leavers spending their first Christmas on their own.

Your donations will help us provide essentials for wellbeing and treats too - but more than that they’ll help us create moments of kindness and connection. You’ll remind these young adults that they are not forgotten.

We’re packing these hampers with comforting, thoughtful items and a few little treats to make the season brighter. Because, everybody deserves a treat at Christmas, and this is our way of showing them that their community cares.

For this appeal, we’re collecting:

Winter Wellbeing

• Fluffy socks or blankets

• Candles or diffusers

• Shower gel

• Lip balm

• Handwash

• Hand or foot masks

• Hand cream

• Moisturising lotion

Bakes and Biscuits

• Biscuits

• Cakes

• Shortbread

• Crackers

• Panettone

Tempting Treats

• Hot chocolate

• Marshmallows

• Mugs

Items can be dropped off at Northorpe Hall between Monday 1^st and Friday 5th December, or we are happy to pick them up if you contact support@northorpe.com

Christmas should be a time of hope — and with your support, we can make it just that for young people who deserve to feel seen, valued, and cared for.

Thank you for standing with us as, together, we shine a light on young people and helping transform their lives, this Christmas and beyond!