How you can change a child’s life this Christmas

This is your chance to join a Gloucestershire charity's annual campaign that has galvanised scores of county businesses and is giving hope back to thousands of children this Christmas.

Dear readers,

On Monday we ran a story that got somewhat overshadowed by the announcement of the death of Sir David McMurtry that broke just as we went to publish, but the story in question discussed a very real crisis facing county charities.

It was one of our best-read stories yet and we hope raised the profile of the serious challenge up ahead for the sector in Gloucestershire put there by the Government’s Autumn Budget. You can read it here.

Before that we also ran a story about the millions of pounds sitting in the coffers of the county council and other local authorities in the county earmarked for building projects, and not being spent. You can read that here.

But with charities still in mind - not least because it’s Christmas - we have themed this edition on two good causes we think are well worth highlighting.

We also because we think they say something about the kind of county Gloucestershire is and the kind of people who live here.

The detail for campaigns like Hamper Scamper, at the heart of one of the stories, gives you a lens to see the county that shows just how much passion is here to help tackle the issues impacting our youngest and most helpless.

In other news, this week we attended the QuoLux Christmas event. It was a gathering of the cohort from the firm’s Lead, Gold and Gain leadership development programmes and a glimpse into a culture and network of probably the county’s best-connected, most dynamic teams. We’ll be running a report on it early next week to lift the lid a little more.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this edition. Have a great weekend.

Andrew Merrell (editor).

NB: Raikes publishes probably the best-read business-related email ‘newsletter’, pound for pound, in Gloucestershire.

If you have a story, an issue, a news item, a charity or an interview you want us to write about or investigate, challenge the powers that be on, then please email me: andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk.

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How your pants can help Gloucestershire’s homeless

It’s not often you feel comfortable using the word ‘pants’ to describe a charity campaign, especially one aiming to help give a little dignity and respect back to Gloucestershire’s homeless, but that is exactly what it is. It's all about pants.

It speaks volumes of British humour that the idea of a campaign called ‘Underpants Under the Christmas Tree’ seems somehow to bring a smile to the face.

This is the amusingly titled push by Gloucester City Mission, supported by Eastgate Shopping Centre managers Colliers, to encourage donations of the aforementioned undergarments.

For those who don’t know, the Mission is the city centre based charity that supports our homeless all year round, and which runs the campaign to enable it to have something practical to give those it looks after through the difficult Christmas period.

Funny as it might be, the issues themselves are no laughing matter for the charity itself, which spends on average £6,000 a year on underwear for rough sleepers which it distributes through its restore Clothing Bank. In 2023 550 pairs of boxer shorts and briefs were handed out.

The campaign gave Raikes a chance to do what it is here to do, lift the lid a little on some of these snippets of news to bring you a little closer to some of the good work being done by those who would otherwise go unseen among us.

Louise MacKenzie, general manager at Gloucester City Mission, said: “We are based in the old Thomas Rich’s School house on Eastgate Street.”

Its facility are split over every floor, providing a place for health checks, for a showers, for a safe day-time sleep, a clothing bank, food, laundry service and even an opticians.

“And we have our teams that goes out at night with our trolley to make sure all the rough sleepers we know about are okay and whether they need anything,” said MacKenzie.

Revive coffee house in Eastgate Shopping Centre (near the doors where it opens onto Southgate Street) is where you will find the donation box for Undies Under The Christmas Tree.

Revive is more than just a cafe.

“We have three people working there who may have been homeless or are in recovery and it gives them purpose and helps them get back onto their feet,” said MacKenzie.

“Last year there were more than 800 visits to the homeless shelter. This year it’s been more than 1,000.

“Many of them have had terrible upbringings where a spiral into dependency was inevitable.

“Sometimes they will pop in and want nothing from us, just want a hug.

“We are here for them. Sometimes just knowing someone is there for you can mean the world.”

Jason Robinson, senior destination manager of the Eastgate Shopping Centre, said: “The Undies Under The Christmas Tree campaign is a fantastic charitable cause and one we’re only too happy to get behind once again.

“For those who venture into town and would love to get involved, there are many shops in the City that offer affordable underwear, including Primark, H&M and Marks & Spencer, and it really will help make someone’s day.”

You donate men’s boxer shorts, sizes medium or large, and women’s briefs, sizes small and medium at the drop-off point. The campaign will run until Saturday January 4.

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Stuff to do this weekend…

Friday:

🎭 Described as a musical adventure for all the family - The Three Muskateers at The Barn Theatre, Cirencester, tonight from 7pm and on Saturday too.

🎭 Aladdin plays at The Everyman, Cheltenham, until Sunday 12 January, Cinderella at The Roses in Tewkesbury (including an ‘adult’ version tonight!),

Saturday:

🛍️ 🎄Gloucester Quays’ Christmas Market is set to open from 10am to 6pm.

🛍️🎄 A traditional Arts & Crafts Christmas Market will be on the Promenade in Cheltenham until December 22.

🏉 Gloucester Rugby play French side RC Vannes away in the Challenge Cup at 5.30pm.

🏉 Gloucester-Hartpury RC play Saracens at 2pm at Kingsholm.

⚽Cheltenham Town FC play Morcambe FC, Forest Green Rovers FC play Boston United and Gloucester City FC play Chertsey Town. All at home at 3pm.

🎺🎶 Pauline Black, lead singer of 2-Tone hit band The Selecter, tells her story at Gloucester Guildhall from 7pm.

Sunday:

☃️🎻🎶 The Berkeley Castle Orchestral Christmas Concert 2024 will take place on Sunday 15 December at 6pm with Reception from 5pm.

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* Everything you read on The Raikes Journal is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: QuoLux, Willans LLP, Gloucestershire College, Merrell People and Randall & Payne, our sponsors Hartpury University and Hartpury College, our Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.

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How to change a child’s life this Christmas

This is your chance to join a Gloucestershire charity's incredible annual campaign that has galvanised scores of county businesses and is giving hope back to thousands of children this Christmas.

“It hits me when I go up to The Grange and see the rows and stacks of gifts so neatly wrapped and I see each name tag – the name of real child. That is a moment,” said Cordell Ray.

Ray is the chief executive officer of Caring for Communities and People (CCP). The Cheltenham-based charity supports people across Gloucestershire and now beyond the county boundaries, and Christmas is an exceptionally busy time.

We’re talking about its annual Hamper Scamper appeal, which began by accident more than 10 years ago and has grown into something of a cult, in the best possible sense.