Dear All,

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As an ex-teacher, September always feels like the start of a new year and, lots of the children and young people in our communities are experiencing a great deal of change.  It might be as simple as the change of class in primary school, moving to a new school, or even preparing to go away to study at university.  All of those changes can feel difficult and traumatic, as well as being exciting and promising new starts.

This can mean great changes for families, and a surprising amount of expense just as we are beginning to look at the lead up to what can be the most expensive time of the year. 

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I do frequently talk during advent about the expense of Christmas, as it is a time when debt levels rise hugely.  It is a time, also, when food banks and debt relief agencies are overwhelmed with new referrals.  Much of this can be stopped with a little forward planning. 

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Christmas does not need to be expensive, we are already being tempted to buy expensive gifts, decorations and food for the Christmas feast – now is the time to set the budget and start looking at ways to trim down the spending without spoiling the Christmas festivities.

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Now is also the time to think about how we can, as a community, help the foodbanks in the run up to the busiest time of the year.  At the moment, giving practical things like toiletries and cleaning materials will be a real help.  Following on from this, in a few months’ time, gifts of food.  We have collection points in our Co-Ops and our local supermarkets.

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I hope that this will help put the Festive season into some kind of perspective – after all, the main focus should always be the celebration of the Birth of Jesus and, the love that he brought into the world.

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With best wishes,

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Jenny