“The Christmas Dinner 2015
#MCRCD2015
We are a team of professionals and care leavers in Manchester, led by the poet Lemn Sissay. “The Christmas Dinner” is a pop up organisation set up to provide a Christmas Day Dinner to remember for care leavers between 16 and 30.
Many care leavers are sat in flats, B&B’s, hostels, sofa surfing and indeed living on the streets on their own at Christmas. It can be a day to dread and then forget.
Not now.
Since our first successful fundraiser in 2013, where we asked for £5000 and then ended up with £10,000 we were able provide a scrumptious xmas meal and a magical day, full of happy memories a day to remember in Manchester and London For two years running. We have now produced a how to guide for info on how to organize a Christmas Day for Careleavers, which we hope will inspire you to do what we have done.
http://blog.lemnsissay.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Welcome-to-the-Christmas-Dinner.doc
To see previous Christmas dinners and the impact on the guests please visit https://youtu.be/1vOhSpkcYcM
This year we need to raise £30000 to provide the same level of magic for Care leavers at a secret location in Manchester, Leeds and Hackney and to support the possibility of other events around the UK.
How can we make this happen? With your help! no matter whether you pledge money or support or even just share the link to this page, this will all help, let’s do this!
Our aim is to source food, venue, Christmas presents, and volunteers and Hosts and most of all the most memorable day ever.
Are you are part of a company who prefer to provide decorations or amazing gifts for our guests?
Maybe you would like to volunteer? If so please get in touch as soon as possible.
Our target for the day is £30000
If everyone chips in and backs this project you will truly have made a real and long lasting difference in to the lives of care leavers and to your community.
To enquire about how to volunteer,donate gifts or media enquiries please contact
for Manchester email mcrcd15@gmail.com
For Hackney visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/396783203852321/
For Leeds email tcdleeds@gmail.com
When pledging please remember to gift aid your pledge all gift aid money will go to Pure Insight. A charity that works year round to support young careleavers
Thank you !
The Manchester people involved this year are
Lemn Sissay Poet
Rod Kippen Children’s Rights Campaigner
Ian Dickson social worker care leaver
Sarah Sturmey Pure Insight
Simon Ruding Director TIPP
Melissa Webster Station Manager Key 103
Louise Wallwein Poet Playwright
joanne Oakes Health Worker
Kate O’Sullivan Health Worker
Emma Thackray charity Manager
Sam Calland student social worker
Alison Allcott University of Manchester
Sarah Helsby University of Manchester
Deej Lashley-Johnson BME officer University of Manchester
Jennifer Houghton Social Work Manager
Laura Kelly Associate Lecturer