By my estimation there are about 32 days until we all sit around our beautifully decorated tables and break bread with our families and loved ones. 32 days of preparation, over indulgence and a little bit of spirited \u2018cheer\u2019 before Christmas greets us for another year.<\/p>\n
I am not one to lament, in fact I am pretty \u2018spirited\u2019 the whole year around. I am grateful for my family, my job, my friends and the experiences life affords me, no matter how big or small. I\u2019ve grown up surrounded by love and encouragement and that\u2019s signposted me into my 2016 \u2018happy place\u2019.<\/p>\n
Not wanting to sound like a person of the cloth asking his or her congregation to review the past 12 months and look for good, and identify where we might help those less fortunate\u2026but the New Directions Social Care Team did just that recently and we were pleasantly surprised at what we discovered.<\/p>\n
Whilst it is true we work in an extremely competitive capitalist market and recruitment gets a bad press from time-to-time, we are also a team with a heart, a blooming big heart.
\nYou won\u2019t ever find us in the high streets of your towns and cities waiting to pounce with a clipboard to sign you up to a monthly charitable fee\u2026but in our own quiet and unassuming way, we are taking small steps to make a difference.<\/p>\n
In 2015 we opened our Bristol office \u2013 a city known for its huge cultural heritage \u2013 a big melting pot of diversity, difference and opportunity. We have been overwhelmed by our own welcome into the community there, the South West should be proud of its own spirit. However, working in some of the volatile and vulnerable corners of the community as we do\u2026we have also had our eyes opened to the suffering and poverty that still exists \u2013 even in this seemingly upwardly mobile city.<\/p>\n
Our branch lead for Bristol \u2013 the formidable Kirsty Knowles has chosen to work with St Mungo\u2019s this festive period in supporting one of their homeless shelters. We are working with a unit that will care for 21 female residents this Christmas, who for whatever reason have found themselves in a desperate situation. Kirsty \u2013 in her gritty determined way has managed to recruit over 30 of our staff to create a \u2018shoebox\u2019 of toiletries and other luxury items to gift the clients of the shelter in December. It\u2019s a small offering, but one we hope might make their time there a little more comfortable.<\/p>\n
Kirsty is also working with the team at the shelter to make it more festive \u2013 to decorate it and give it a bit of a festive feel. Unfortunately last week we had news that the business that was originally going to supply some basic decorations had withdrawn their offer of support. So now we are extending an appeal \u2013 have you got any spare Christmas decorations? Could we take charge of the tinsel and trees that no longer befit your homes or offices? We\u2019ll collect, we\u2019ll give you a shout out on our (very popular) social media accounts and we will be thankful on behalf of those at the shelter this Christmas.<\/p>\n
We are remaining positive \u2013 our own team have started to bring in baubles and bits, we just want a few extras to try and add a bit of Christmas sparkle in what might be a darker year for the residents than they have been used to\u2026<\/p>\n