Sutton Council Children’s Services spread Christmas cheer

Sutton Council’s Children’s Services are rolling out a programme of fun events over the festive season with a number of activities planned throughout December. Children’s Services in Sutton includes support for Children Looked After, care leavers and those currently in foster care. Each service works closely with families and other professionals to provide safe, high-quality services for children and young people in need. 

The up-coming events include:

Christmas Day dinner for care leavers 

The Christmas Day dinner is an annual project founded by the poet Lemn Sissay MBE for communities to provide an amazing Christmas Day for care leavers. The team has now launched a virtual fundraiser for their annual Christmas Day Dinner in Sutton. Despite the challenges of 2020, Sutton Council is working alongside Jigsaw4U and Volunteer Centre Sutton to create another magical Christmas event for young people who have gone through the care system. This will be the third Christmas Day Dinner that has been hosted in Sutton, however 2020 is going to be a different kind of celebration with each care leaver receiving a home delivered three course meal and present on Christmas Day. Online entertainment, games and social interaction will also take place so that no care leaver has to feel alone on Christmas day. 

To volunteer on the day contact the team via email. 

Donate to the virtual fundraiser for The Christmas Day Dinner. 

Children in Care Christmas Cracker

This year, the Children in Care Council has joined forces with the Council’s foster care team to find a new way for those in care to enjoy fun, festive activities in the lead up to Christmas and to show appreciation for the hard work of foster carers through this challenging year. Over 100 make your own Christmas decorations kits will be sent out in the post to children in the borough as part of a new Fostering at Christmas appeal. Each child will be encouraged to be creative and share pictures of their personalised Christmas decorations, while also sharing a message about why Fostering at Christmas is so important to them, helping to break down barriers and show messages of support to others. The images will be shared online in the form of an advent calendar during December to help spread festive joy. 

The Ninth Annual Met Christmas Tree Appeal

The Met's annual Christmas Tree Appeal is now open. Due to current circumstances, the campaign has opened virtually for the first time since its inception nine years ago. For the second year running, the Met have partnered with The Childhood Trust to give Christmas presents to make sure that children in need across London who may otherwise not receive a gift, have something to open for Christmas. This year the appeal has become completely virtual with all presents needing to be purchased via an online store. The campaign runs until 16 December, when all of the presents purchased will be delivered by Met officers and colleagues from the local authorities. All Children Looked After in Sutton will receive a gift donated via the Christmas Tree Appeal. 

More information about how you can purchase a gift for a child in need. 

Councillor Marian James, Chair of the People Committee at Sutton Council, said: “As a Council and Corporate Parent we want to do everything we can to support our young people at what is an especially challenging time. Although we have to do Christmas differently this year to help keep everyone safe, it doesn’t mean there won’t be lots of creativity, colour and opportunities to celebrate. I’m pleased that we are able to continue bringing some joy and support to young people in Sutton during the festive period.”