At a time when real wages remain stagnant for most of the UK’s lowest paid, it is estimated more than 2,000 working families will find themselves in need of assistance at times, from voluntary organisations for food and other necessities.

Christmas especially, is one of those times and this is where we are hoping to help.

Having been the Interim Parish Priest of Saint Hilda's Cross Green and Saint Saviours Richmond Hill since April of 2016, I am well aware of the poverty that affects those in the heart of our community. Having sat and eaten with these folk at the Community Lunch group at Saint Hilda's each week, I have seen first-hand how Community Unity have raised funds to run this vital provision and how people here struggle, even to provide the bare essentials. Basic necessities such as plates, cutlery and mugs which we all take for granted, ensure that desperate people who arrive unexpectedly for help, can be accommodated. Bedding is another major concern, and those who are lucky enough to be allocated a home, often struggle to even afford a quilt.

It is around this time, when the nights start drawing in and the kids have gone back to school, that our thoughts turn to Christmas. The plans we need to make and the challenges it entails. There are children who don’t receive a gift and whole families who can’t afford to provide a Christmas dinner, living amongst us, sat beside us, too desperate to speak out.
So, I have decided to take this opportunity to try and help.

On the 11th October 2017 I am taking to the beautiful and rugged Welsh mountains to take on Europe's largest underground Zip Wire,. https://www.zipworld.co.uk/adventure/detail/caverns to view Caverns, Bethesda.
Raising cash to help support this important Community project is vital, especially as we head into the winter months. So if you can, please give generously and help those in our community, whom are in need this winter.
We thank you so much in advance, for your support.