The 8th Blog Of CLICmas
From Monday 13 to Friday 24 December, CLIC will feature a different guest blog each day - The 12 Blogs Of CLICmas, in fact! Here is the eighth...
It’s very near that big, festive day again, how fast the time flies!
It only seems like yesterday that I was scoffing the oversized Christmas dinner of 2009.
I have been trying to get myself into the Christmas spirit these last few days, decorations up, stocking up on all things snacky, and miniature pigs in blankets etc.
The CLIC Christmas Blog series has certainly helped. So I thought I would make my contribution too!
This time of year means many things to me: family, friends, reminiscing, overeating, laughter, festive songs, Christmas trees and the general feeling of togetherness. But for me that also brings a feeling of sadness for those who don’t have any of these things.
Christmas can be such a exciting time, especially for children, that bursting with excitement feeling waiting for Father Christmas to come down the chimney or though the front door.
I remember when I was about five-years-old, thinking 'I’m going to stay awake for as long as possible and catch a glimpse of him creeping in, putting my presents under the tree. I wonder what he will bring me this year?’ I used to think to myself.
‘I have been really good this year. No coal for me,’ I thought. Although I never did manage to stay awake past ten o’clock!
I remember my Christmases so well and how lucky I have been. Do you ever spare a thought for those less fortunate at Christmas?
We can spoil ourselves so much in the pleasantry of all things festive and breeze through without even a slight consideration that some people may not have a family to spend Christmas with, a roof over their head, or a bulging Christmas dinner to warm their bellies, let alone a present to unwrap, not even one.
According to Wikipedia, there are an estimated 100 million people in the world who are homeless. Over 10,000 sleep rough on the streets of the UK (Department For Communities And Local Government 2005).
That doesn’t even include the 98,750 living in temporary accommodation such as hostels. The festive season, especially this one, is cold, bitter, freezing. Sleeping rough at this time of year is tough to say the least.
There is fantastic work taking place across the UK to help the homeless, such as soup kitchens run by volunteers and charities who support the homeless, like the local organisation, Llamau.
Llamau works with young people, providing support and assistance with accommodation to those who need it most, as well as just someone to talk to.
So my last thought to leave with you is, whilst enjoying the best parts of the festive season and Christmas Day, spare a thought for others. You can help by donating to charities, you can even donate things such as food or unwanted furniture. You can also help by volunteering.
For more information about people living homeless in the UK go to www.homeless.org.uk or you can find out more about Llamau by visiting their website: www.llamau.org.uk .
Give something back this Christmas.
Dominique is the editor of The Vale Of Glamorgan's CLIC website, www.swoosh.me.uk, and is also a member of the Vibe team. You can find her at Area 41 in Barry.
IMAGE: kindgott
