Care leavers across Yorkshire open up about the loneliness of Christmas

Across Yorkshire communities are rallying round to support care leavers with festive initiatives designed to bring happiness to young people who often find themselves alone at Christmas.

The festive period is often seen as a time to spend with family, but for many care-leavers without a family home to go back to for Christmas often they may find themselves left out in the cold.

Happily across the region passionate individuals and initiatives have opened their arms to support young people who face a uniquely challenging time of year.

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Care leavers across Yorkshire speak out about the challenges facing young people
Pictured Chris Hoyle, who has become a Christmas champion at the University of York for spearheading festive support and goodwill for care leavers in higher education at the university. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe/ JPIMediaResellPictured Chris Hoyle, who has become a Christmas champion at the University of York for spearheading festive support and goodwill for care leavers in higher education at the university. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe/ JPIMediaResell
Pictured Chris Hoyle, who has become a Christmas champion at the University of York for spearheading festive support and goodwill for care leavers in higher education at the university. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe/ JPIMediaResell
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Father-of-one Chris Hoyle, who was the first care leaver from North Yorkshire to attend a university in the UK, after the inception of care leavers act in 2001, is on a mission to make sure care leavers and estranged students have something to look forward to on Christmas Day.

For four years, the analyst for the widening participation team at the Russell Group university, has given out Christmas hampers to the most vulnerable students who often “don’t have anything” to look forward to and has now become a Christmas champion on the University of York campus - where he broke new ground.

Mr Hoyle, 34, was taken into care at the age of 13 in Scarborough but found hope a year later when Trevor and Odette Townsend, became his foster parents, after previously fostering his older brother Jonny a year earlier.

He described himself as one of the “lucky” care leavers at Christmas as he has family he can visit, unlike many care experienced young people who may find themselves alone, with “nothing to look forward to.”

Pictured a York University student receiving a Christmas hamper, alongside Chris Hoyle. Photos credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe / JPIMediaResellPictured a York University student receiving a Christmas hamper, alongside Chris Hoyle. Photos credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe / JPIMediaResell
Pictured a York University student receiving a Christmas hamper, alongside Chris Hoyle. Photos credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe / JPIMediaResell
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He said: “For people from care, or those who are estranged from their families, Christmas can often be a very difficult time.

“It’s not overly dramatic when I say some have nothing to look forward to on Christmas day. I don’t think many people can really genuinely say that is the case for them - that they don’t have a single thing.

“The aim is to show a little love and compassion by sharing these hampers with our students. Those who have received them in the past have said how nice it is to have something to look forward to opening on Christmas Day.”

This year will see more than 65 students being given the hampers to enjoy, which was made possible due to a record amount of money donated via a crowdfunding page, which raised more than £6,00- up from £4,300 last year.

Pictured, Lemn Sissay, who was awarded an MBE for services to literature, has seen his annual Christmas Dinner event, which started as a single event in Manchester in 2013, grow to more than 15,  taking place across the country. Photo credit: Slater KingPictured, Lemn Sissay, who was awarded an MBE for services to literature, has seen his annual Christmas Dinner event, which started as a single event in Manchester in 2013, grow to more than 15,  taking place across the country. Photo credit: Slater King
Pictured, Lemn Sissay, who was awarded an MBE for services to literature, has seen his annual Christmas Dinner event, which started as a single event in Manchester in 2013, grow to more than 15, taking place across the country. Photo credit: Slater King
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Donations came from all over the UK including the Islamic Art Circle, John Lewis, Nestle and the university, with local business, Balloon Tree Farm helping to prepare the hampers.

As part of the Christmas initiative hampers will also be given to a children’s home in the city.

Meanwhile a northern foster child, poet and university chancellor, is striving to make sure those in the system, including many across Yorkshire, don't spend Christmas Day alone.

Wigan-born writer Lemn Sissay is no stranger to challenges faced by care-experienced children at Christmas, as he himself grew up as a child of the state, in care as a baby and between the ages of 12 and 18.

Wigan-born writer Lemn Sissay is no stranger to challenges faced by care-experienced children at Christmas, having been in care as a baby and between the ages of 12 and 18. Photo credit: Craig SugdenWigan-born writer Lemn Sissay is no stranger to challenges faced by care-experienced children at Christmas, having been in care as a baby and between the ages of 12 and 18. Photo credit: Craig Sugden
Wigan-born writer Lemn Sissay is no stranger to challenges faced by care-experienced children at Christmas, having been in care as a baby and between the ages of 12 and 18. Photo credit: Craig Sugden
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Mr Sissay, who was awarded an MBE for services to literature, has seen his annual Christmas Dinner event, which started as a single event in Manchester in 2013, grow to more than 15, taking place across the country.

This year, there will be five in Yorkshire - in Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Barnsley and Hull, which will support more than 400 care experienced young people.

Each has adapted due to coronavirus and will be delivering 'Christmas' to the young people rather than hosting a large one-day event.

In Huddersfield on Christmas day a team of volunteers will drive and deliver Christmas boxes, personally to the homes of more than 50 young people.

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Amanda Crowther, who is helping support the Huddersfield-based event this year said it had been heartening to see an increased number of volunteers offering their services this year.

She said: “People seem to want to help others more than ever, which I believe is a result of the pandemic and increase in community spirit.”

While in Hull stocking and presents will be given to more than 50 young people who are going to be on their own at Christmas as part of the adapted initiative.

And there are plans in place for a zoom session on Christmas Day afternoon, with a quiz, bingo, and a playlist from a local DJ.

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Mr Sissay added he had been inspired by a Christmas dinner he had seen in London run by the Tope Project, a volunteer-run scheme to combat loneliness for those who have been in care.

And three years ago the Lemn Sissay Foundation was set up as a registered charity, to secure the future of the event.

The award-winning author describes it as his "own personal legacy" and says each dinner tries to make every individual feel special.

He said: "Christmas Day can be a very difficult day for young care-leavers.

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"For some of us, going home for Christmas is a pain and there's arguments and dysfunction.

"But there are young people who have nowhere to go and who feel on their own on that day and who feel a greater sense of loss.

"It's about giving them a smile and making them know that they matter on that day."

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