VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help buy, wrap and deliver Christmas presents to young people who have previously been in the care system.

The Ellesmere Port Christmas Dinner team are busy planning deliveries of presents and food hampers to care leavers so that they don’t feel alone this festive period.

Although the annual project is unable to host any sit-down meals this year, plans are in full swing for a delivery service so care leavers aged between 18-25 still have a day to remember.

Advent calendars and decorations to brighten up homes are being sent out this week, and now organisers are calling for volunteers to help either buy, wrap or deliver presents.

The team need stocking fillers for the young care leavers and will provide anyone offering to help with all the information about their favourite chocolates and smellies, as well as their sock size, so gifts can be personalised and a message can be written to the recipient.

They are also having a wrapping and preparation day on Saturday, December 19, and are looking for a small number of volunteers to help with putting together food hampers and gift wrap presents.

Organisers have a large space available in Chester for this to happen and will be following all current Covid guidelines at the time.

If anyone is interested in being a delivery driver for the team, they are looking for pairs of adults to drop off presents and food hampers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – across Cheshire West, Liverpool and Manchester.

Santa hats and festive face masks will be provided.

There are also several care leavers whose first language is Tigrinya, Amharic, Fur and Sudanese Arabic – if anyone speaks these languages and could help with translation.

The Ellesmere Port Christmas Dinner team are supporting over 50 young care leavers – aged 18-25 – this festive period.

Many of them are parents themselves so the project is also supporting 15 children aged between nine days and five years-old.

If any business or toyshop can help by donating toys for these children to receive, please contact our steering group.

  • To register for any of the above volunteering roles please fill in the form here .