Traditionally, Christmas is the time for giving, with lots of children waking up on Christmas morning with an expectation that Santa has been.
But this time of year also sees a push for donations to various charities supporting health, the homeless and those children for whom Santa will not be calling. But how many of these charities will be distributing the largesse of the public in Cumbria?
An email that hit the cat’s inbox this week was for Great Ormond Street Hospital, and this begs some questions?
Firstly, a general one – why does a hospital need to appeal for extra funds over and above what they receive from the NHS/taxation? Do they use the donations from the public for things over and above the health services they provide?
A glance at their website suggests that they use the donations for activities that support the treatment and recovery of children and their families, but also to carry out “ground-breaking research into children’s health”.
While the former may be an acceptable reason for charity, is research not the province of both the wider NHS and part of the university estate who spend 14% of the total money that feeds higher education? In 2020/21, research monies totalled £15bn!
The second question is far more parochial. Should the good people of Cumbria be supporting a hospital where the majority of cases come from their south east/London catchment area? In the north we have Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, both more likely as destinations for any child needing specialist paediatric care.
But what about those children being treated in the Cumberland Infirmary, the Westmorland General Hospital, Furness General Hospital or West Cumberland Hospital?
Could local donations be directed to these to make the child’s treatment that little bit better?
Beyond health, what about other ‘national’ charities seeking our cash this time of year? Crisis at Christmas has TV adverts asking for donations but their Christmas centres are all in London although they do operate in other cities but not, directly, in Cumbria.
This year, this cat’s mouse hunting reward money will be going to the following:
- Carlisle Key – supporting 16 – 25 year olds homeless or at risk of homelessness in the Carlisle area.
- North Cumbria Hospitals NHS Charity – Working with Cumbria Community Foundation, seeks to improve the experience of both patients and their families.
- Bay Hospitals Charity – doing the same at Furness general Hospital in Barrow-in Furness, and Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal.
- Furness Homeless Support group (Homeless Link) who offer a day centre for homeless people offering them practical support – showers and laundry, phone and computer access – as well as lunch and support to find accommodation.
- Time To Change (TTC) West Cumbria who offer support for the homeless including hostel accommodation and support packs.
- The Salvation Army – Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal, Whitehaven and Workington – who work with any and all vulnerable members of our communities including providing gifts for Children – drop off new toys at any of their centres or shops.
- Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice.
Of course, YOU will know those charities key to helping in your area, your town or village.
Whatever you can afford to give, no matter how small, will make a difference at this giving time of year.
About Cumbria Cat
Born in Cumberland and, now, back living in Cumberland, having spent most of the past 50 years in some place called Cumbria, this cat has used up all nine lives as well as a few others.
Always happy to curl up on a friendly lap, the preference is for a local lap and not a lap that wants to descend on the county to change it into something it isn’t.
After all, you might think Cumbria/Cumberland/Westmorland is a land forged by nature – the glaciers, the rivers, breaking down the volcanic rocks or the sedimentary layers – but, in reality, the Cumbria we know today was forged by generations of local people, farmers, miners, quarriers, and foresters.
This cat is a local moggy, not a Burmese, Ocicat or Persian, and although I have been around the block a few times, whenever I jump, I end up on my feet back in my home county.
I am passionate about the area, its people, past, present and future, and those who come to admire what we hold dear, be it lakes and mountains, wild sea shores, vibrant communities or the history as rich and diverse as anywhere in the world.
