Over 100 local residents enjoyed an early Christmas treat when volunteers from Ilkley Good Neighbours, accompanied by 6th-form students from Ilkley Grammar School, delivered gifts to their homes.
The ever-popular Christmas Gift Project, organised each year by the charity, never fails to bring a touch of seasonal good cheer to a number of the community’s older and less able residents.
Chairman of Ilkley Good Neighbours Ed Duguid said:
“It’s been another fantastic festive period delivering Christmas gift bags to all our clients. The students from IGS have as usual been absolute stars and it’s been wonderful to see the faces of our clients light up when the students deliver the gifts at their homes or visit them at one our Friendship Groups.
Our volunteers have once again been amazing. Thanks also to The Rotary Club of Ilkley Wharfedale; Friends of Ilkley Riverside Park; Olicana Masonic, and Tesco, all who support the event, but in particular to The Ilkley Roundtable who have financed all Good Neighbours Christmas events that bring such pleasure and joy to our elderly citizens during the festive season.”
Preparing and organising the Project is a major operation which begins several months prior to the event itself. This year the gift bags contain chocolates, a specially created calendar based on the charity’s “Lifted” Exhibition, which celebrates with photos the range of work it does, featuring clients and volunteers, and a Christmas card from its staff and trustees.
[Group shot of charity volunteers and IGS students outside school]
The gifts were also delivered to Befriending and Shop Assist clients, and those attending the popular Friendship Groups, as well as visitors to the charity’s Dementia Café, which opened this year and has since provided help for many individuals affected by the illness.
The visits, particularly to homes, generated a host of favourable comments from the recipients. One of the clients said simply: “Thank you for the lovely visit, chocolates and calendar. It made me feel very special.”
According to charity trustee Kathryn the students also benefited from their visits:
“I delivered to a number of ladies accompanied by IGS students Isabel and Amy, The girls were clearly very touched by their visits, and said how it had made them think much more about the challenges the elderly face. I think the girls felt inspired to do more.
"And as for the clients, there was no doubt that they really look forward to the annual visit. One of them proudly showed the girls her 100th birthday card which she had received from the King. It was a truly heart warming morning for all of us.”
[Group shot of IGS students sitting at Clarke Foley with Friendship Group clients]
Ed Duguid added:
“I would like to say how grateful we are to IGS for once again helping us deliver the gift parcels and for making it a special day for our clients. Christmas can be a challenging time for some of our older people in the community, and this annual event by Ilkley Good Neighbours is just one of the ways we, as a charity, can support them and let them know that they haven’t been forgotten.”
For further information on volunteering or making a donation with Ilkley and District Good Neighbours please contact 01943 603348.
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