{"id":30681,"date":"2019-11-26T15:43:14","date_gmt":"2019-11-26T15:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/?p=30681"},"modified":"2019-11-26T15:43:14","modified_gmt":"2019-11-26T15:43:14","slug":"many-children-will-go-without-presents-and-traditional-meal-this-christmas-says-barnardos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/26\/many-children-will-go-without-presents-and-traditional-meal-this-christmas-says-barnardos\/","title":{"rendered":"Many children will go without presents and traditional meal this Christmas, says Barnardo\u2019s"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Christmas many children supported by children\u2019s charity Barnardo\u2019s<\/strong> will go without presents and a festive meal, according to a shocking survey of hundreds of the charity\u2019s frontline workers.<\/p>\n

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A YouGov survey revealed that more than a third (34 per cent) of children among families who celebrate Christmas will be waking up to more than 10 presents on average this Christmas morning.\u00a0In contrast, 43 per cent of Barnardo\u2019s frontline staff responding to a separate survey said some of the people they support who celebrate Christmas were unlikely to receive any presents, or enjoy a traditional meal.<\/p>\n

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The 230 Barnardo\u2019s staff members surveyed also said they were concerned that some of the children and families they currently support will experience an increase in mental health issues (78 per cent) and loneliness (64 per cent) over the festive period.<\/p>\n

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The news comes in the wake of reports from hunger charity Trussell Trust which showed food parcel donations are up by nearly a quarter year-on-year, with one third of these going to children.<\/p>\n

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Adults celebrating Christmas who responded to a separate YouGov survey for Barnardo\u2019s said their top concern was that some children and families will miss out on traditions such as having a Christmas meal or receiving presents (19 per cent).<\/p>\n

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Other concerns included the over-commercialisation of Christmas (27 per cent) and spending too much money (19 per cent).<\/p>\n

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These results are being published during the charity\u2019s first \u2018Kidsmas\u2019 campaign, which aims to raise money to help vulnerable children at Christmas.<\/p>\n

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The charity is asking people to get involved by creating an online \u2018Build a Kidsmas Snowman\u2019 fundraising page. Through the\u00a0platform<\/a>, fundraisers can ask people to donate by throwing a \u2018snowball donation\u2019. The more snowballs thrown, the bigger their snowman gets and the more money is raised to help change the lives of vulnerable children.<\/p>\n

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People can also support the campaign by hosting a \u2018Kidsmas Party\u2019 at home, school, work and with their local community groups. Anyone can sign up for a free Kidsmas Party pack which includes party games and fun festive fundraising ideas. It\u2019s the perfect way to celebrate Christmas and do something meaningful this Kidsmas.<\/p>\n

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Barnardo\u2019s Chief Executive Javed Khan<\/strong>\u00a0said, \u201cVulnerable children across the UK will struggle this Christmas. Many families supported by Barnardo\u2019s miss out on the fun and celebration we normally associate with this time of year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s particularly difficult for children experiencing domestic abuse, dealing with mental health issues, recovering from sexual exploitation or struggling to live independently after leaving the care system.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re asking people to come together to raise funds and help Barnardo\u2019s make sure that vulnerable children are safe, supported and cared for – at Christmas and all year round. I encourage everybody to get into the Kidsmas spirit.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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People can set up their own online Kidsmas Snowman fundraiser at\u00a0http:\/\/kidsmas.barnardos.org.uk\/joinkidsmas<\/a><\/p>\n

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In terms of attitudes towards Christmas, the YouGov poll of 1,852 adults across the UK who celebrate Christmas revealed that:<\/p>\n