A donation today could make someone's Christmas
Every year at the University of York we come together as a community, with staff, alumni and friends, to raise donations in order to provide Christmas stockings to our Care Experienced and Estranged Students, who are studying without parental support. We pack these with love, care and an abundance of festive magic!
We know how hard everyone is being hit by the current cost of living crisis and that circumstances remain difficult for all, none more so than these students. Asking people for donations in the current climate isn’t easy and we appreciate that people may not be in a position to do so. If you feel able to donate, this would be massively appreciated and absolutely every penny counts. Any amount which you donate will be worth double until we reach our target, thanks to the generous match gift pledged by the University of York.
We understand that a donation may not be possible, so please show your care by sharing the campaign as far and wide as you can - let’s generate as much festive cheer together as we can. We have more Care Experienced and Estranged students studying with us than ever this year and we want to demonstrate to them what an inspiration we think they are by offering these gifts.
We are aiming to provide 150 stockings this year and are hoping to spend £30 on each stocking, so we need to raise £4500. However, the amount spent on gifts will be determined by how much we raise.
Being a Care Experienced or Estranged student at University can be lonely and isolating. Which other student…
- May have to arrive at university alone, with no one to help them settle in?
- Moves everything they own to university when they come?
- May have nobody outside of the university check in on how they are doing?
- May have been surrounded by professionals for most of their life, acting professionally, rather than in a loving way?
- May have nobody to attend their graduation ceremony?
- Has nowhere to go over the winter break, when all their friends have returned home?
- Has no Christmas dinner?
- Spends Christmas day alone?
- May receive no Christmas gifts at all?
This may be the experience of many of our Care Experienced and Estranged Students. As a university and connected caring individuals, let’s do what we can to make a difference and change this. Let’s continue to be a community of which we can be proud!
Why we need your help
We aim to let these students know that for them, Christmas Day may not be the same as it is for many of us, but we are thinking of them. Our Vice-Chancellor commits his time every year to attending our festivities and hand signs Christmas cards for all our Care Experienced and Estranged Students! Please support us in letting our students know that we value them, that they matter and that we care (and allow us to jam-pack our stockings with thoughtful goodies!).
Please join us in showing a little love. Our students have really appreciated the gifts that they have received:
When Christmas is a time for family it can be really hard for students like us. The Christmas hamper makes you feel cared for and makes a lonely time a lot easier.
Where will the money go?
Every single penny will be spent on providing these stockings and sharing Christmas cheer. If donations exceed our target (which seems like an unbelievable ask!), we will increase the volume and/or quality of the gifts.
Find us here
If you have any questions or would like to make contact, my email address is student-independent@york.ac.uk.
