The cost of living crisis has meant that many families are feeling the pinch. And Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for families who are financially vulnerable.

Most of us take for granted being able to buy ingredients for a special meal at Christmas, but for some families in our community having a Christmas Day meal competes with essential living expenses - and so can become unobtainable.

The Christmas Hamper initiative is targeted at local families whose children attend our village schools - Wheatley Primary, The Park and John Watson schools - and who are eligible for free school meals.

Each hamper contains the ingredients to cook a traditional Christmas meal for 4-6 people. We source the food from local suppliers and stores and rely on the kindness of our army of volunteer drivers to deliver the hampers to each family on the afternoon of December 23rd.

But we couldn't do this without the financial donations that come in every year from generous donors within our community. Each hamper costs around £60 to buy, but any amount that you feel you can afford to donate will help.

The initiative really does make a difference - with approximately 110 families - approximately 450 people supported every year.