What does Christmas mean to you?

Is it all about the lights or the festivities or the endless bundles of presents under the tree, just begging to be unwrapped?

Or maybe you prefer the knowledge that you can drink as much as you desire, or finally eat the almost infinite amount of food that`s been hastily shoved in a box in your garage for the past month?

Do you take this time to reflect on your year and how you have gotten to the place you are now?

If you are a Christian do you show your gratitude to Jesus, remembering how his sacrifice has helped you to the place you are now?

Regardless of your beliefs and views, there`s one vital thing you must think about; the adults and children who do not receive the luxury of Christmas each year because, for them, Christmas is just another day.

In the UK there is a substantial 14 million people living in poverty, 4.2 million being children. In London alone, there are 700,000 children living in poverty, 34% of their child population. These families are barely able to buy the bare necessities let alone Christmas trees and designer gifts and luxury food and expensive drink. As well as, the financial pressure on individuals and families has been heightened and increased by Covid-19 and caused 114 million people to lose their jobs in 2020, resulting in so many having to miss out on the biggest holiday of the year. Imagine walking outside and seeing the never ending stream of houses littered with lights and bursting with joy, knowing you can never experience something even remotely similar.

It is unusual that, in a country as wealthy as ours, it is estimated a quarter of a million children will go hungry this winter, with 2.5 million people relying on foodbanks and parcels to survive. However, the government is playing a large and active role in the inability of some working-class families to provide for themselves and their children. Increasing tax, decreasing wages and raising energy bills means that, instead of attempting to help abolish poverty, they are deepening the debt and financial strain on families and widening the inequalities between middle and working class. As well as, during the colder months, many children relied on free school meals as a source of energy so they can concentrate during lessons, which gives them a chance to succeed in school and achieve academic excellence. But, since 2018, free school meals have been cut substantially and for a child to be eligible, the household income must be £7,400 or less- anything more means they do not qualify. Another way to ensure that families have fresh, safe food was through universal credit- a single benefit payment given to working-age people. At the beginning of the pandemic, the 5.8 million people who claimed universal credit in the UK were given an extra £20 as it was noticed that many unfortunately lost their jobs. Even in late 2021, many still struggle to find jobs however, as of October 2021 the extra £20 a week was cut, plummeting many families into debt, distress and denying their chance of giving their children a Christmas.

As shown, it is extremely difficult to break from the cycle of poverty and due to, parents will not be able to send their children to university which will inevitably reproduce these inequalities and keep the cycle going. Despite not being able to completely break the cycle, there are a number of ways to spark some hope for children`s, and adults, future and guarantee them a little comfort and joy this Christmas.

Donating your favourite Christmas food items, as well as necessities, to foodbanks will ensure there is a surplus of food and essentials for all the families using food banks to enjoy. Lorraine Cole frequently donates to foodbanks in Colchester as “it is better to give than receive and makes me feel humble, so many people have nothing and I have enough.” There are many food banks in Colchester, such as The Trussel Trust food bank located at the Moorside business park and the Colchester foodbank at Tollgate Retail Park.  Donating money to charities such as The Trussel Trust, who campaign to end hunger and destitution in the UK, will mean that children are satisfied and full on Christmas instead of enduring the day on an empty stomach. To spark hope and excitement, The Children`s Society allows you to send gifts to children in poverty so they can begin the new year feeling optimistic and appreciated, as they know there are people who are thinking about them and trying to make their Christmas joyful.