Manchester Christmas Dinner: giving care leavers a day to remember
25 Nov 2021
Volunteers, including University colleagues, are preparing for this year's Manchester Christmas Dinner - and you can help too
Manchester Christmas Dinner is one of 22 dinners taking place on Christmas Day this year. The Christmas dinners for care leavers were set up as a community movement by our Chancellor Lemn Sissay.
Lemn understands how lonely the festive period can be for care leavers - he was in children's homes or foster care from the age of 12. Christmas is often a reminder to care leavers that they don't have family support or connections.
The Christmas Dinners initiative has a vision to create happy memories of Christmas for care leavers aged 18 to 25, who otherwise would be on their own on Christmas Day.
Our Head of Hospitality and Events Alison Shedlock says: "I have been involved with the Manchester Christmas Dinner for the past seven years and have witnessed first hand the positive impact it has on these young people. I am always amazed at the generosity of people to want to make a difference. And Manchester Christmas Dinner and the whole movement across the country does just that through the communities that support them."
How you can help
- Could you support in advance or on Christmas Day? Hosts, helpers, drivers, crafters all needed! Whether it's wrapping presents or peeling potatoes, find out how you can volunteer.
- Visit the Amazon wishlist if you'd like to donate a gift for a care leaver.
- There's also a CrowdFunder for additional expenditure needed to help make the day run smoothly.