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This weekend has seen the culmination of an annual event in Liverpool that not only takes a potentially stressful Christmas for hundreds of families - and turns it into something quite magical - but also confirms what most of us already know: that the city and region is an incredibly special place - and its people are the key ingredient.
Last week we joined a group of volunteers from across the city - in a waterfront warehouse and event space - who were committed to providing some practical help to local charity KIND’s landmark 50th Christmas appeal.
KIND, founded by Stephen Yip, is the Liverpool charity that has been integral to the city and its people for half-a-century. Working with disadvantaged and deprived children and their families from across Merseyside, this inspirational organisation delivers a wide range of activities, opportunities and experiences ‘that show them that that they and life do have more to offer, that they and life can be different.’
KIND’s website confirms: ‘It’s also about allowing our children the opportunity to create some wonderful, happy and positive memories of their childhood - memories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.’ With mission statements like these – it’s easy to understand that Stephen and his team have had a profound impact on many thousands of people across the North West since 1975.
Arriving at Blackstone Street Warehouse on a chilly Thursday morning, we enter a vast building complete with a stage and numerous glitterballs suspended from the cavern-like space. The venue is famous as a multi-purpose event space – but today is a hive of activity with food-laden pallets, fork trucks and a troop of motivated volunteers who; following Stephen’s guidance (think benevolent Sergeant Major) – are packing large boxes with the raw ingredients that are going to make a lot of families more likely to embrace some festive cheer.
Almost immediately, we bump into Sarah, Tom, Dan and Ruth from Mason Owen – the Liverpool Commercial Property Consultancy – who through their newly established charitable committee – have made a sizeable donation to this year’s KIND Christmas Appeal.
Sarah is clear on their motivation: “This time of year can be challenging for families. The cost of buying presents and food on top of the everyday pressures is huge. We are from Liverpool. This is our city and we [at Mason Owen] want to support the incredible work being done by local charities.”
And KIND isn’t the only charity that they support: Cure Parkinson's, The Barry Owen Garden at Maggie's Liverpool, Bay Tree Caterers Liverpool and Wirral Foodbank are all central to the organisation’s desire to support local charities.
As Mr Yip marshals his volunteers, he explains the nuts-and-bolts of this year’s appeal:
“None of this food is donated. Every hamper is exactly the same. Everything in them is quality.
“This year we're going to do five hundred. This has cost us £75K, which we've raised in six weeks. The cost of food is going up so much now. We wish we could do more: we did a thousand hampers two years ago and we raised £125K, but food was a lot cheaper.”
The families who will receive these festive lifelines are all referred - as Stephen continues: “They’re referred by Social Workers, Schools, Health Visitors, GP’s, Homeless Units, Domestic Violence Workers, anybody who's working with children and families.
“This will give them a Christmas to remember, not one to forget. And it’s not just food - we also do toys.
“For toys, we ask everybody - and we're one of the few groups to do it - who say, we have to have personal requests [from the children].
“You've got to say, what does that child like? Is he a Marvel Hero fan? Do they like Lego? Does she like arts and crafts? They're bespoke presents, so when a kid opens it on Christmas morning – it’s a ‘Wow - it is from Father Christmas, that's what I wanted’.”
Not your typical Christmas Elves; but busy packing boxes are Sharon and Caitlin - and Caitlin explains her motivation for being involved: “I think anyone who's got a bit of kindness in themselves, will try and give a bit of time back to something else. This is for other people, people that probably have nothing to open at Christmas time. That little bit of help is important, isn't it?
Sharon adds: “It's nice to know that someone will actually open a box that we've made.”
The pair are Civil Servants - and part of a team of colleagues on hand today spreading some essential festive sparkle.
Stacey is another Civil Servant - based in Liverpool with the Home Office. She has been involved with KIND for many years: “I was very lucky [as a child]; when we were at home, we were really supported. We would always donate toys to the appeal and then for the last eight years or so, I started getting involved in coming to do the pack. It's just a nice day, isn't it? It's a lovely day to support the charity, because obviously we all think he's [Stephen] done amazing work , so it's just a nice end of the year.
“It's lovely, it's just a fun day, isn't it? We've been fed [KIND make sure everyone has hot food before the packing kicks off], you meet new people. I didn't know anyone, even though there's people here from the Home Office - I don't work with them, so it’s even nice just meeting them.”
All of the Christmas ‘Miraclists’ are paired-up for maximum hamper-loading efficiency – and Stacey introduces her partner Mohammed - and he explains: “I’ve been doing this for four years now. I enjoy doing it - coming to help Steven and help KIND.”
Mohammed first came to Liverpool to study for his PhD and is clear that for him and his family “Liverpool is our home now.”
When not involved in massively important projects like this, he also works for Royal Mail in the city and as an Arabic interpreter. “It is important to help – because we are all one. I love Liverpool.”
Proudly wearing his KIND T-shirt, Kit has come along to ‘do his bit’ with colleagues from Merseyside Police, where he works in the Force Intelligence Bureau:
“We know that there are lots of people who put on a brave face at this time of year, but behind closed doors are struggling. Our being here today helps them - but it's done quietly and without fuss. Times are hard, aren't they? Everybody's got to look after each other. I think that's why we're here; we do look after our own in Liverpool.
Kit explains that there are no shortage of volunteers from Merseyside Police each year. It’s his second year – and he’s one of nine who have taken time out today to help.
“FIB’s chosen charity is KIND because of their focus on helping vulnerable families, especially with things like the Christmas Appeal, when otherwise they would miss out; but not only on the material goods and needs, also on those social and culturally inclusive initiatives that they run, like the summer camps.
“We raise money all year. We have 'Own clothes days' on Fridays. We do bake sales and then we help out with stuff like this.
“I know the sort of impact that appeals like this have on families and especially young people. I used to be a teacher before I moved into working for the police – and I worked with some of the most vulnerable young people – and I know just how deprived some of these young people are, particularly at this time of year. Charity plays a really important role in our society.”
Husband and Wife team Pat and Mike have the hamper packing off to a fine art: Mike says that they’ve been involved with KIND for over thirty years: “We’ve done all sorts. I’ve known Stephen for ages – and Pat is a KIND trustee now.”
He goes on to explain that during the pandemic they helped deliver food parcels to vulnerable families – and the Christmas appeal is “…right at the front of our priorities”.
“Stephen’s work over the years has made a massive difference to so many lives in Liverpool – and everyone’s so proud of him and the charity”.
As Pat despatches Mike to collect another tray of tinned tuna, I’m left with an overwhelming sense of what ‘community’ actually means. Not only in this warehouse-cum-nightclub – but in this city and region. People really do matter.
Organisations like KIND are built on the power of us all being invested in – and caring about our local communities. Stephen and his team of supporters have an immeasurable amount of heart, dedication - but just as importantly - a direct line to the people who need help most.
The individuals and organisations who have responded to this year’s appeal aren’t just giving to a cause; they’re investing in their own community. They’re helping neighbours, strengthening local networks and ensuring the people closest to home get the help they need.
The final words have to come from Mason Owen’s Sarah Bancroft: “We are very proud of our city and the people in it and if we can help even one person, then we will. WE ARE LIVERPOOL.”
Header Image: Stephen Yip From Kind Liverpool
