January can feel like a long, quiet month after the busyness of the festive season, so we wanted to share a story that reminds us of what can happen when a community comes together with kindness and care.
At Blend Youth Project, we believe it is important that the young people we meet feel supported, included and valued, and that they feel positive about themselves. Over Christmas, thanks to the generosity of Belper Morrisons, David Neiper and the Salvation Army, we were able to support young people and families across Amber Valley, Chesterfield and the High Peak during a time that can be especially challenging.
Their support helped us create Christmas hampers and gift packages for young people attending Blend sessions, ensuring they felt remembered, valued and supported throughout the festive season.
The Salvation Army kindly donated vouchers and gifts for families. David Neiper supported us by placing donation boxes outside their sites, encouraging customers and staff to donate gifts for young people and their families. They also donated the cash collected and then doubled it, allowing us to spend even more on additional gifts. Belper Morrisons prepared thoughtful gift bags, which we were able to distribute directly to young people attending our sessions.
Together, these contributions meant the team could create Christmas hampers reaching around 95 young people and supporting 10 families across the area.
One moment shared by the Blend team involved a young person who was upset and overwhelmed because they didn’t have any money to buy Christmas presents for their parents. Using some leftover gift sets and wrapping paper, they wrapped the presents themselves. Being able to give something to their family meant the world to them and turned a stressful situation into one of joy and relief on Christmas Day.
There were special moments for the Blend team too. Coming together to prepare and distribute the packages was a reminder of the power of teamwork and meaningful connection. In a busy organisation where staff can be focused on day to day roles, it was a chance to slow down, work side by side and share something genuinely special.
As a thank you for the generosity and support received, the team created certificates of appreciation to present to the three organisations. They were also incredibly touched by the messages of support received, including this from David Neiper:
“Thank you for your kind words and we love the certificate. I shall certainly pass these on to everyone who donated, you have given us a much-needed boost at this rather gloomy time of year. Best wishes for all the wonderful work that you do.”
Young people also created a handmade card to thank staff, a simple but heartfelt gesture that summed up the spirit of the project.
While Christmas may have passed, the impact of this generosity hasn’t. Acts like these continue to shape how young people feel about themselves, their communities and the support around them.