Plymouth young care leavers treated to a special Christmas dinner
More than 270 young care leavers from across Plymouth were treated to festive cheer after they were brought together for a traditional Christmas dinner.
The young people, aged 18 to 25, many of whom live independently and do not always have the family Christmas others may take for granted, were invited to come together to celebrate and create special memories.
They enjoyed a festive menu including roast turkey, gammon with all the trimmings, followed by chocolate cheesecake and mince pies.
The event was made possible by Wales & West Utilities, which provided generous support to Plymouth City Council, sponsoring the dinner, whilst also contributing to the Christmas Appeal campaign. The support helps ensure every young person has the opportunity to share a Christmas meal with people who care about them, as well as something special to unwrap on Christmas morning.
Councillor Jemima Laing, acting Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said:
“We are pleased to be able to hold special events like these for care leavers, many of whom live independently and don’t always have the family Christmas most of us enjoy.
“I want to say a huge thank you to Wales & West Utilities for sponsoring the meal and for donating generously to our Christmas Appeal campaign. Their kindness and goodwill have helped ensure every young person has the chance to share a Christmas dinner with people who care about them and have something special to unwrap on Christmas morning.”
Ross Gregory, External Affairs Manager from Wales & West Utilities, added:
“We are delighted to be able to give something back to the young care leavers across Plymouth and are happy to support the work of the Council in delivering these important events at Christmas time.
“Christmas can be challenging for many, and we are delighted to be able to support causes that truly make a difference and bring joy to the communities we serve.”
Wales & West Utilities is the gas emergency and pipeline service, delivering energy to over 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England. We don’t sell gas; we transport it through an extensive underground network of more than 35,000 kilometres of pipes.
If you smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide, call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999 immediately. Trained engineers are available 24/7 to respond and keep you safe.
For anyone wishing to donate to the Christmas Appeal campaign, please view the Wishlist: Amazon.co.uk