A hundred Glasgow kids will find presents under the tree this Christmas thanks to a Scots charity – and they hope to make sure NO child misses out in future.
Medics Against Violence was set up 15 years ago by a group of medics who wanted to do something practical to reduce injuries sustained through violence in Scotland.
They say part of that work is making sure parents don’t face the crippling guilt of a child missing out on Christmas morning – because it could leave damaging mental scars on both parents and child.
Head of Services Geraldine Lennon said: “We see beyond the violent incidents and look to tackle the root causes of harm to people and intervene as soon as possible. We believe in prevention and in a person’s ability to heal and change.
“For the last three years we have been helped by Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas to ease the burden on struggling families – our Navigators, Youth Navigators and Family Navigators deal with people and families every day and see how bad things can be.
“They find many of the adults do not have great memories of Christmas – and they want things to be different for their children.
“The adults we support are doing the best they can with what they have. The sense of shame felt by someone who feels they’ve let their children down is horrendous and stays long after the turkey has been eaten.
“No child should be dreading going back to school because they didn’t have the Instagram Christmas but until there is change in society, that will continue unless someone helps.
“So one of the things that MAV and organisations like Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas can do is try and take the pressure off even just a wee bit – that’s why we are delivering presents to families who may have missed out on a Santa visit.”
The organisation works to reduce all forms of violence through education and support programmes – and their impressive Navigator teams use their own experiences and what they learned in the programme to work with people facing issues now.
Geraldine said: “Navigators are credible people who meet patients where they are at, build a trusting relationship and make suggestions about supports on offer to improve the person’s life on their terms when they are ready.
“They are seeing families living in conditions and under pressures that just should not be tolerated in society – we know of people who are frightened to go home from hospital because they can’t afford heating.
“It can happen to anyone – no one wakes up wanting to be unable to provide for their family, heat their house, buy food, clothing or toiletries.
“An older person told us this was the first year they couldn’t buy their grandchildren a gift because all their money had to go on heating their home.
“Parents are going without food so their children can eat. Families with one or even two incomes can be struggling to cope with cost of living rises.
“We have also supported families and individuals who are in extreme financial hardship after being victims of domestic abuse and other crimes.
“The children / families have been in contact with one of our services at some point throughout the year.
“The Navigators and Youth Navigators are asked to provide gender and age of anyone they think would benefit. This could be grandchildren of a person we are supporting, or maybe a child who has came into one of the children’s hospitals.
“It can also be for a parent to give to their child who is in kinship or foster care.
“We provide Glasgow Spirit of Christmas with the wish list and people can pledge to MAV through the GSOC website – so early in Dec we start to get the most amazing, generous gifts dropped off to us.”
The charity runs programmes in hospitals, schools and more – and also offers emergency support where needed in other areas of life too, to help people stay on track.
So if you would like to help, there’s an ongoing fund for donations.
Geraldine said: “Medics Against Violence have a crisis fund that we use all year round for the people we support – this can be for heating, toiletries, travel expenses, household goods, anything that would help someone be able to engage with the service and focus on moving forward.
“People can donate to this via our website www.mav.scot and of course can also look at the GSOC website to help more charities like us.
“We wouldn’t be able to do to provide these gifts without the generosity of the people who pledge via GSOC – and without GSOC themselves who have been running this campaign for over 10 years.
“I’m convinced Julie Griffen who runs GSOC might actually be Mrs Claus. It would be a dream if this wasn’t needed next year but sadly we know that the hardship people are living with is getting worse.”
So the team have been delivering wrapped gifts over the weekend and today, to make sure Santa steps up.
“Over ¼ million children are living in poverty, through the year our team work to empower people to achieve their best because we know it takes employment, education, healing therapies and good housing to make long term positive change for people.
“Of course, we know that happiness is not all about material things, far from it – but if gifts for their kids can take a little bit of the pressure off parents, increase their self-esteem, reduce shame and guilt and allow them head space to consider their options, hopes and aspirations, we will continue to do what we can.”
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