A Belated but Heartfelt Thank You

Now that the seasonal chaos has just about died down, we would like to take a moment to thank all our With Kids supporters, both big and small, for your overwhelming response to our Christmas Appeal 2013.

Thanks to your invaluable support, we were able to provide 102 families in Glasgow and Edinburgh with food parcels, and also 232 children with presents to open on Christmas morning.

In addition to this, we also had 82 families along to our Christmas parties, where 175 kids received a present from Santa.

However, it’s not just at Christmas when we rely on donations; our summer programme and various groups and activities are also made possible this way throughout the year.

We simply couldn't reach as many families without your continued support, and we would like to take the time to thank some particular businesses, individuals, schools and nurseries who went above and beyond the call of duty last year.  

So, without further ado, (*drum roll*) we would like to take the opportunity to announce our very own New Years Honours List.

Thank you to the various businesses and organisations who helped support With Kids, including Scottish Fire & Rescue and Tommy Keay who as always, were amazing, The Disney Store in St Enoch Centre, fatBuzz, Kevin MaGuire and Merchant City Properties, Dell (Alexandra Parade), Excel Vending, Andrew Muirhead & Sons, Sainsbury's Longstone, Scottish National Heritage, CFC Foundation, Tango Tipica, UNITE, Port William Community Shop, El Barrio Glasgow, Maxim Tools, The Gallery, and Scottish Enterprise.

There were also many individuals who gave up their own valuable time in order to help make a huge difference to the families that With Kids support, including Tracy Heraghty and staff, friends and family from Scottish Power (Cathcart), Lisa Sullivan, Phil Worms of iomart Group, Alex and Jen Robertson, Laura O'Brien at CTG, Elaine McIntyre and Fraser Gowrie Johnston, Lorna Allan, Lucy Gardner at The Sun, and everyone who purchased from the Amazon Wish List.

As you are all aware of, we help provide individual, social and practical support to children and families across Scotland, so it was particularly heartwarming to receive the support from various primary schools and nurseries throughout Glasgow, including St Josephs Primary, Mount Florida Nursery, Balornock Primary, Ashcraig Primary, Alexandra Parade Primary, Garnetbank Primary and Wellfield Nursery.

Last but not least, thank you to Robert Carlyle, Emilie De Ravin and all the wonderful Once Upon A Time Fans, as well as JCI Glasgow and Daniel and Kim Robertson, who did an absolutely brilliant job organising and collecting donations from Caledonian and Glasgow University.

We have had so many people help us throughout the year that it’s impossible to name them all, so finally, we would like to say an ENORMOUS THANK YOU to everyone who donated, volunteered, tweeted, followed, shared and talked about With Kids in 2013.

You are all stars!

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Christmas On Credit

“Was Santa good to you this year?”. The words every child is asked at Christmas time, the answer to which can only be yes in the eyes of their parents. Who just want to do best by their children by any means necessary and that can sometimes land them in trouble.


Financial trouble, at Christmas time, is always a tough time financially but for some families it can be far tougher and the rest of the new year can also become a struggle too.

In a recent channel 4 documentary, “Christmas on Credit”, these problems are addressed and explains just how difficult the Christmas period can be for Britain’s poorer families. 

It opens with statistics claiming that 11% of British families are still paying off money that they borrowed for Christmas 2012, 93% feel that they are under pressure to spend too much during the festive period and around 15% of British adults plan to take out a loan for this year. 

Perfection is strived for so nonchalantly that the struggle that follows can be very harrowing, but it is kept aside until the new year then the worrying truly begins.

Around seven million people will borrow money this Christmas and four million of that will borrow just so that they can provide their families with a good hearty Christmas dinner. 

For one of the families interviewed in the documentary, the loan taken out for 2012’s Christmas has still not been paid off and are planning on taking out another loan on credit to pay for this year. At a nationwide average of £822, though, does it comes as any surprise that debt will arise for those on benefits who struggle to make it through the week let alone Christmas.

Loans on credit that have been given out last Christmas and have failed to have been paid will result in lower credit scores, meaning that loans this year will be declined. This will mean that this Christmas will be difficult but if you can scrape by then great, but what about next year?

The stigma of the whole idea and pleasantries of Christmas dull down the negative thoughts of the repayments are kept at bay because seeing the smiles on their children's’ faces is worth it.

However all of this being said, what are your thoughts? Do you think that Christmas has been over-hyped and become the source of anxiety amongst many British households? Obviously it is a great festive time that should be full of joy and time with your family, but should it cause so much strain on people? 

If you'd like to find out more about how you can help to raise vital funds for With Kids please click HERE. You can contact us on Facebook or Twitter or call us on 0141 550 5770.

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With kids Christmas Appeal 2013

The countdown to Christmas begins!

This is the time where most of us will be thinking about what gifts you are getting your friends and family, what to wear to your Christmas parties, and of course, preparing for that all important Christmas Dinner.

However, Christmas can be a very difficult time of the year for many of us, so if you can help in any way, please make a donation to With Kids.

For many children, Christmas is simply another day without the fun and warmth that the rest of us take for granted. Poverty, family breakdown or illness are just some of the reasons that a child will wake to find that Santa hasn't come this year.

With Kids aims to provide a Christmas for families who would otherwise struggle. We provide presents and food hampers for families in need. We also have a special day with dinner, entertainment and a visit from Santa.

To enable this to happen we are in desperate need of donations and are looking for:

• Children's toys
• Stocking fillers
• Non-perishable food items for hampers

If you are able to donate just one thing, this would go a long way to making it a very merry Christmas.

Donate Glasgow

To donate children's toys. stocking fillers and non-perishable food items for hamper's for With Kids Glasgow please drop them into our office at 15 Annfield Place Dennistoun, Glasgow

Donate Edinburgh

If you would like to donate non perishable food for With Kids Edinburgh just pop into the Chesser, ASDA and fill up the With Kids trolley! The address is 3 New Market Road, EH14 1RS. Or you drop any donations into our Edinburgh office at 1 Hailesland Road, Edinburgh.

Donate Online with Amazon Wishlist

We have also created a Christmas wishlist on Amazon where you can buy toys which we'll then donate to those in need. It's a great idea and means you can donate to us with the click of a button! To check this out please click HERE.

At With Kids, we believe that every child and family should have a very merry Christmas so please help us to help them. We could not do this without your help and support - thank you!

For information about what's going on at With Kids, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Your help goes a very long way...

Christmas is a time of the year that can be really tough financially. Each year we provide families that are struggling by providing presents, food hampers and credit towards utility bills for families that will otherwise go without.

Here at With Kids, we hear some heartbreaking stories of people left in desperate situations with literally nowhere to turn.

Last year we worked with many families who were in great need of support.

One particular family had 6 children and the mother had become so severely ill with MS that the father had to give up work to care for her and the kids.

Another woman's husband had walked out on her and their 3 kids taking every penny with him and leaving them with nothing. They'd planned to use his wage to go out shopping at the beginning of December but he used it to set up a new flat. She tried desperately to get loans but couldn't and finally heard about us 5 days before Christmas.

One woman had bought presents for the kids but at the expense of her electricity. She had a meter but every time she spent £10 on her card, £7 was taken towards her debt leaving her with just £3. She couldn't afford it in the run up to Christmas so stopped buying the cards, cutting herself off and leaving her without any heat or light.

Sadly, these stories aren't isolated incidents, you hear variations of them time and time again.

All families, regardless of background find that they have difficulties from time to time and too often parent's may not be aware of available support or the best action to take. With Kids aim to fill that gap and to provide flexible support that is suited to the needs of children and parents.

That is why we wanted to  take the time to thank our friends who have supported us and donated to the charity. We could not do it without you so from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

If you have found this post of interest then please feel free to share it with your online community via the share buttons below. Thank you.

With Kids Christmas Appeal 2010

Christmas is a special time of the year. At no other time are children exposed to so many pictures of happy families and gift-laden homes.

Yet for many children, such images are merely a pipe dream, owing to poverty, family breakdown and illness. For them, Christmas is simply another day devoid of the joy and warmth that the rest of us take for granted.

On Christmas Eve this year, ‘With Kids', is staging an alternative Christmas for children and their families in Glasgow’s East End. These are families who may otherwise struggle to provide any sort of Christmas for their children.

We want to provide a special day that will include games, a festive dinner and presents from Santa.We also want to ensure that these families all have sufficient clothing, heat, food and support over the period so that they can experience something of the joy that Christmas brings to the rest of us.

We are in desperate need of donations and support to enable this to happen.

£5.00 provides a goody bag at our christmas party
£10.00 pays for lunch for four at our christmas party
£20.00 fills a christmas stocking
£30.00 provides food for a family of four or winter clothing

We recognise that every donation is an extrordinary act, but it would allow these children and their families simply to enjoy a normal Christmas.

For info on how to donate, whether it be gifts, money or time then please email info@withkids.org.uk



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The "With Kids" Santa has lost his Sleigh - Can anyone help?

The "With Kids" Santa has lost his sleigh! We urgently need a 4x4 to deliver food, winter clothing and toys to vulnerable children and families in the East End of Glasgow. We need the vehicle for the run up to Christmas.

As you know, many families that we work with don't have enough money to pay for gas, electricity, adequate winter clothing and basic food items to keep their children warm and well fed over the festive period. For many it can be a choice between keeping warm or not buying food items.

Buying presents are even more of an issue for many families and we know of at least fifty families that will not receive a main Xmas present unless With Kids provides it. Our commitment is to help as many families as possible. We really can make a difference to vulnerable children and families at Christmas in particular. Especially when the weather is so cold.

If you can donate a vehicle, please contact http://network.withkids.org.uk

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Do you swish ?

Are you a lady or chap who swishes? Do you get together to swap some of your fancy gladrags over a few bottles of fizz? If so, perhaps this year you might consider donating these items instead to With Kids.

We are looking for previously loved high quality frocks, handbags and shoes for an ebay blitz in October and November. All items sold will go to purchase presents for children in the East End of Glasgow at Christmas.

For these children Christmas is a bittersweet time of the year. They are surrounded by all the accoutrements, trinkets and affluence of Christmas yet know that they will be fortunate if they receive any kind of gift themselves. Just one of your lightly worn accessories could make this a Christmas to remember for a child.

Perhaps you could also pass these details around some of your friends.

Everyone wins from this initiative. You get to clear out your wardrobe to make room for new gear at Christmas and children less fortunate get presents.

If you are able to help, please could you drop off your donation during office hours to With Kids, 15 Annfield Place, Dennistoun, Glasgow. G31 2XE or if that’s not possible Bob will arrange collection – his e mail address is b.leck@withkids.org.uk or telephone 0141 550 5770.



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