It was one of Barnardo’s projects for sexually exploited children that helped Aaliyah to escape from that nightmare world.  She is now in a safe accommodation and out of reach of her tormentors.

It’s not easy for young people like Aaliyah to trust people again after going through such terrifying experiences.  Barnardo’s support workers often take a young person out of their harmful environment to a café for a meal to initiate contact.  Once outside of their harmful environment, these young people can be relaxed, speak their minds and start to build their trust with an adult that genuinely cares.

You can help young people like Aaliyah this Christmas with a Barnardo’s Real Gift. Buying a gift like a Real Meal can help take a young person out of their harmful environment to a café for a meal with a Barnardo’s support worker.

In the end this is so much more than just a meal.  You can help other young people like Aaliyah with the gift of a Real Meal and help give them the first taste of a positive future.

It’s really great to see Barnadro’s Real Gifts getting recognised, but it’s even better knowing the difference it can make with a vulnerable child. During the festive season, the pressure can really mount up for young carers, which is why Barnardo’s provides special outings like Christmas Dinner and Ice Skating for them. For a few precious hours, these children are be able to have fun and forget their worries.

A Christmas outing like a Christmas Dinner and Ice Skating may seem like a small, even frivolous thing, but it can make a dramatic difference to the life of a young carer.

Around a third of Barnardo’s work focuses on the alleviation of children and families in poverty.  We provide advice on budgeting for young parents, access to training and employment, and help young families living in poverty with some basic essentials like a winter coat for the winter.

You can help children in poverty with a Barnardo’s Real Gift like a Winter Coat. It will not only make a wonderful Christmas gift for friends and family, but it could also bring warmth and comfort to children who would usually be forced to go without one.

Children like Jelani, who finds it hard to ask his mum for basic essentials because of their financial situation:

‘We’re always asking for too much… she’s asking for loans and debts…she’s putting her own life at risk.  Sometimes I need something…but I see what she’s going through and I keep quiet’

A winter coat may seem like a very basic essential, but to children like Jelani, it’ll be a wonderful Christmas gift, the money raised when you buy a Winter Coat could go towards helping reduce the impact of poverty on children in the UK.

Eight-year-old Harry often wishes he could have a life like other children. Unlike most children at Christmas, Harry is often too busy looking after his ill parent to even notice the special day. This Christmas Harry will be doing all his usual chores – the washing, cooking and cleaning.  It’s an incredible amount of responsibility but out of love for his mum, Harry does his best to carry on but during the festive season, the pressures can really mount up.

Fortunately, Barnardo’s is able to organise a Christmas outing for young carers like Harry.  It will be a chance for him to enjoy the company of other children who know exactly how he feels.

A Christmas outing may seem like a small, even frivolous thing, but it can make a dramatic difference to the life of a young carer.  It could provide them with the chance to celebrate Christmas and leave their worries behind for a few precious hours.

This Christmas, you can help children like Harry with a Barnardo’s Real Gift.  Buying a gift like a Christmas dinner and ice skating trip will not only make a great gift for family and friends, it could also give a child like Harry a Christmas outing they won’t forget.

Our counsellor worked with Judith over 12 one-on-one counselling sessions where she was able to express her feelings of hatred and anger regarding some family members and her abusers.  Time was spent exploring her strengths and abilities, which helped build her confidence when she saw her hard work pay off by the improvements in her recent exam results.

Themes of trust and safety emerged from the counselling sessions with feelings related to being let down by others and betrayed by those who we trust.  Focus was placed on why abuse takes occurs and that the blame and responsibility belong to the abuser and not Judith. Our counsellor was able to discuss the confusion Judith feels regarding to coming to terms with all that has happened to her as well as her fear and guilt.

Judith said that the best thing about coming to counselling was “being able to say anything at all and not being told it was wrong.” We were able to help Judith regain her confidence and feel she’s not to blame.

You can help children like Judith this Christmas by sending your friends and family a Barnardo’s Real Gift. A gift like One-on-one Help and Advice will not only make a great Christmas gift, but the money could go towards rebuilding shattered lives from sexual abuse and help transform the lives of many other children who need our help.

 “I have been able to be very honest about my life…I don’t think all the time now that this was all my fault.”

- Judith

Chris was made homeless after his relationship with his adoptive parents broke down. He initially ‘sofa surfed’ with friends which came to an abrupt end a couple of days before Christmas last year.

Chris was left in a vulnerable situation and was placed by Harrogate social care services to Barnardo’s emergency supported lodgings placement in Scarborough.

Barnardo’s was able to offer Chris safe and secure accommodation.  Following his assessment Chris was matched with a suitable host where he has remained since.

Whilst in our supported lodging placement we were able to help Chris get back on his feet. Chris received support in completing a CV and applying for jobs, as well as accessing training and finding work placement.  Chris also received advice regarding Barnardo’s service for adoptive children and has been supported in building communication with his adoptive parents.

Chris has visited his adoptive parents on two occasions with the possible outcome of Chris returning to his family home.

 “Throughout my time with Barnardo’s I have been supported with getting medical needs, finding work, setting up my CV and covering letter. The Barnardo’s team also helped me get a legal advocate, this helped me get sorted with social services and currently helping me get in touch with my root’s”

“I hope this is a big help to young people out there who are scared to speak up and find help, I did and now I have my life back on track thanks to the support from Barnardo’s and their host’s”.

- Chris

Help Chris get back on his feet