Longfield Community Hospice is taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s largest match funding campaign, between 29 November and 6 December, to raise money to fund vital counselling services.
For one week only, every donation made to the campaign will be doubled.
The charity has set a target of raising £5,000. If they succeed in raising this amount, the £5,000 will be doubled and be worth £10,000, which will fund 180 bereavement counselling sessions.
Around 25 per cent of the population finds Christmas more challenging than other times. Longfield supports 210 people with counselling each year, with over 25 seeking support at Christmas.
This year, the charity hopes to provide more professional bereavement counselling to support people like Sarah, who are struggling with loss and grief this Christmas. When Sarah’s Dad died, she turned to Longfield for counselling. She said:
“Dad embodied Christmas even playing Father Christmas at school. He was the life and soul, the family glue. The first Christmas after Dad died I was so adrift, lost, alone. I had to fill his shoes, sort everything, support Mum. I felt angry, wanting to be left alone to tumble into my own grief.
Bereavement doesn’t go away, but my counsellor’s given me tools to help look for new connections, to prepare for Christmas this year and in the future. It is so holding knowing there is someone in the world who will listen to your uncomfortable stuff, exactly as it is.”
Emma Snook, one of the counselling team at Longfield, explained: “At Longfield, we aim to create a safe space for those who have been bereaved, to understand their painful emotions, reduce their stress and help them adjust to life without a loved one.
“If you can, please donate to The Big Give Christmas Challenge. If we succeed in reaching our £5,000 target, every penny you donate this week will be matched! That means that if we reach our target your donations would be worth at least £10,000, which will make a huge difference to the support we can provide this Christmas and beyond.”
To donate, visit https://blog.thebiggive.org.uk/christmas-challenge/
Donations can be made between midday on 29 November and midday on 6 December 2022.
Longfield’s campaign is championed by Candis Club @candismagazine
