Help brighten up the lives of unpaid carers this Christmas

Charity Crossroads Care Richmond and Kingston is running its Show an Act of Kindness this Christmas appeal, to help lift the spirits of local unpaid carers.

Since 2021, Crossroads Care has been delivering Christmas hampers to vulnerable and socially isolated carers over the festive period.

The charity aims to deliver more than 50 hampers this year. Any donations over the target amount will go towards its Carers’ Christmas Lunch event which will take place in mid-December. Find out more and donate now:

For most people, Christmas is a time of festive cheer, nice food, presents and family, but for unpaid carers who provide unpaid care for loved ones with debilitating conditions such as dementia and profound disability, it can be a time of great loneliness.

Unpaid carers, who are looking after loved ones around the clock, often have no-one to exchange gifts with, and neither the time nor inclination to cook a festive meal.

Figures show that 47% of carers struggle to make ends meet and a further 55% are on the verge of burnout as they aim to navigate their way through the current cost of living crisis. 

Following the death of his wife, one Crossroads user, Craig, 75, cares for his 46-year-old son alone after the young man suffered a catastrophic cardiac arrest which led to brain injury and cognitive and mobility problems. 

He said, “Caring is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that doesn’t stop at Christmas. Thanks to the kindness of donations from local residents, we received a hamper last year which really cheered up both my son and me, and added something special to Christmas Day.”

For £40, Crossroads Care staff and volunteers will hand-deliver a personalised Christmas hamper full of delicious food staples to unpaid carers. 

One carer said, ‘Christmas Day came early when we attended the Crossroads Christmas Lunch. I don’t have the time to cook a festive meal on the day and it’s usually very lonely – but this was such fun, so special and much appreciated. Thank you, Crossroads!’

Find out more about Crossroads Care Richmond and Kingston.