A choice between presents or food at Christmas

The choice between feeding your children and giving them a present is one that no parent should have to make. Here Charlotte explains how thoughtful, personalised gifts for her three children from Family Action’s Toy Appeal made all the difference when she was having to choose between presents or food at Christmas.

Last year I was deciding on whether to buy presents or food at Christmas

Money is always an issue. I don’t work because I have fibromyalgia and, as I’m a single parent, there’s no one else to watch the children, who are 13, 11 and 9. After I’ve been given universal credit, I’ll buy the shopping and pay the gas and electric and it’s literally almost gone… and by the end of the week we’re still struggling for meals

My youngest son has autism and requires a lot of support so, because of that, I was allocated a social worker to see what support I could get. It was that social worker who suggested I get in touch with Family Action about the Toy Appeal. The Family Action staff were great as they were really friendly.  I was treated like a human being.  

Someone asked a few questions and, clearly, they must have gathered information about what my three kids would like, as they got foam blasters, makeup, face masks, drawing pencils and materials and a guide to drawing comics, which was perfect for my 13 year-old eldest son as that’s something he does in his spare time at home and at school.