2023 Care Family Christmas Dinner receives GCU donation
A fourth year Social Work student has secured funding from GCU to help put a smile on the face of Care Experienced individuals this Christmas.
David Grimm, who combines his studies with his role as GCU’s Care Experienced Officer, recently received £5000 from the University’s Principal.
The money has been donated to Who Cares? Scotland (WCS), an organisation working tirelessly with children and young people involved in the care system.
WCS will hold the 2023 Care Family Christmas Dinner at Glasgow’s SWG3 on Christmas Day, with GCU’s donation helping play a part in making the event a huge success.
We caught up with David to find out about his work with WCS and to hear how grateful he is to GCU for supporting the big day.
Tell me a bit about how you got involved with Who Cares? Scotland (WCS)?
“I was in residential care when I was younger and I faced quite a few challenges when I was a teenager.
“Who Cares? Scotland provide advocacy for kids in care and one of their workers came into the care home to just check on the kids and see everything that’s going on. I was asked to join an advocacy service, which was essentially for kids by kids, with a focus on drug and alcohol awareness.
“That was in 2004 when I was 15 years old. All of us involved in the group had our issues but we wanted to take on the world! After being involved in that I’ve basically continued to hang about with WCS and offer my support in whatever way I can. I became part of other volunteer groups and was also on their Board of Directors.”
Why is the festive time such a challenging time for Care Experienced individuals?
“Christmas can be a hard time for anyone. When you’re in care, you can be struggling for a number of reasons, not just because you can’t contact your parents. On top of that, you’re also in a house where your friends are experiencing the same thing and maybe can’t spend the festive period with their little brother or sister. It could even be that you’re in a house where one kids getting presents taken to them by their family and you’re getting nothing.
“I had a great relationship with the people that worked in my home but I was also aware that they were getting paid to be there at Christmas and you know it’s a time where you’re supposed to be with the people that love you. I’ve been out of care since 2009 and Christmas is still a struggle, even as an adult.”
What’s the idea behind the WCS Care Family Christmas Dinner?
“When I was working there we had a whole discussion around how we didn’t like Christmas. One of the staff who worked there, Jamie Kinlochan, recognised we were all understandably upset at the time. He started looking for a bit of funding so we could have a Christmas party. The first one we held was in Pollok Country Park and it was amazing because we were able to have a proper Christmas being friendly, having a laugh, playing games and joking around because we all knew each other and it was like a family.
“We came from different part of Scotland and that’s something that’s continued each year. One time we had kids from Shetland here too for it. Who Cares? Scotland have really opened up to encourage people and help them feel included at Christmas. Even if someone can’t get to Glasgow for the Christmas Dinner, they’ve supported them by sending a present so that person knows that they really are cared for.”
GCU has a number of students that have also benefitted from this event - tell me a bit about your work with the Principal?
“Last year I was due to be helping out at the event and I was thinking about all the different Care Experienced students at GCU. Not all of them have places to go at Christmas and I decided to write a letter to the University Court asking for some support. They got back to me with a financial contribution towards the Care Family Christmas Dinner.
“I did the same thing this year and asked if they would be able to help in any way. They got back in touch and told me they would put £5000 towards the event. That money will go to WCS and be used to help with the food, presents, and even pay for the petrol that allows volunteers to bring children to the event.
“Separate to the event, I’m also working with the Principal and School Connect Coordinator (Care Experienced and Estranged Students), James Moohan, to raise the profile of Care Experienced people so that there is a deeper understanding across the University.”
How grateful are you for the support shown by GCU?
“Our University has really stuck to the motto of being the University for the Common Good. There’s been a lot of excellent things done at GCU in recent times, like the free breakfast campaign, and this is yet another example. The fact that they’re still putting their hands in their pockets to support this just means so much.”
Finally, what can people going along to the event expect to be treated to on the day?
“It’s going to be fantastic! There will obviously be a meal which is the main event, but there will also be other entertainment and gifts for those who come along. We even had a visit from Santa last year, so hopefully he’ll appear again this time around.
“There’s guaranteed to be a lot of laughs and it’ll just be a nice environment for everyone to be a part of. There will also be specific people there that Care Experienced individuals can talk to about any issues.
“SWG3 will also have a designated quiet space where people can go if everything gets too much or if they just need some time to relax away from everything. The best part is that the event will be an open invite to anyone involved in the Care system: teenagers, parents, children…everyone is welcome.”
You can find out more and sign up for the 2023 Care Family Christmas Dinner here.
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter