A West Lothian charity is making sure every child wakes up to a present on Christmas Day.
For the second year, the West Lothian Financial Inclusion Network is launching its Team North Pole project to provide children and teenagers with Christmas boxes.
Volunteers say there is a growing number of families in need and include children and families with disabilities, on low income or have been adversely affected by the covid pandemic.
Adjustments in Universal Credit and the rising prices of energy, goods and services are also all contributing to the increase in household and child poverty.
Ian McIntosh from WLFIN said: “Last year we provided over 500 Christmas boxes to West Lothian households to provide children within them with a Christmas box.
“This year, as the need is greater, we are aiming to provide even more Christmas boxes within West Lothian this year and we are well on the way to achieving this.
“The Christmas boxes are pre-wrapped in appropriate Christmas paper but not sealed so that parents can check through the contents before they gift it to their children.
“The content of each box will be gender and age specific and filled with new items, both gifts and essential items. The age ranges will cover new born to 16 year olds.
“Last year we were inundated with requests for our free, Christmas boxes and we want to get information out again to the growing number of families who need this service and the other organisations and charities within West Lothian who could contact us to refer families that they work with who we may otherwise miss.”
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/
