November 22, 2011 1.43 pm This story is over 147 months old

Christmas fundraiser for vulnerable youngsters

Helping hand: A charity helping young people gain skills will be holding a special Christmas event for the public.

LEAP employees Sam White, left, Training and Activities Co-ordinator, and Victoria Kitchen, right, Student Social Worker, who have been helping to organize the charity fundraiser.

Lincolnshire Employment Accommodation Project (LEAP) are holding a fundraising weekend on the 3rd and 4th of December for young people who might not otherwise have the chance to experience traditional Christmas activities.

The local charity will be opening up their car park on Monson Street to the public, where they will be selling Christmas decorations and cards made by the young people the charity supports.

They will also be offering refreshments on site.

LEAP works with young people aged 16-25 in Lincolnshire to provide housing and support services, and the opportunity to develop independent living skills.

Sam White, Training and Activities Co-ordinator at LEAP, said: “A lot of young people in supported housing haven’t had the experience of Christmas with a family. It’s good for us to be able to do that for them here.

“It’s about social skills, feeling secure and having a settled environment, and I think celebrations are part of that in a big way.

“The amount of money we have available to spend is limited, so this year, by opening up this big space that we have, we’re hoping to raise quite a lot for Christmas.”

LEAP’s car park will be open from 9am-9pm on Saturday 3rd, and from 10am-7pm on Sunday 4th. The charge for the event is ten pounds per car.

Photo: Dominic Clark for The Lincolnite