GWP supports loneliness charity with its’ Christmas initiative

GWP has supported Bristol-based loneliness charity, The Marmalade Trust, with its “Christmas Cheer” initiative.

Hundreds of cardboard boxes have been donated, which are to be decorated and filled with Christmas gifts. These boxes will then be distributed to individuals experiencing loneliness during the festive period.

The charity’s Christmas Cheer project aims to engage those who feel particularly lonely and isolated. For example, individuals could be older people with no family or friends around.

Support includes Christmas lunches in pubs or restaurants throughout Bristol, South Gloucestershire and the North Somerset region. Each member receives a connection doorstep visit in November and a Christmas gift.

This initiative is part of a wider project run by the charity, which involves funding Christmas Day meals at mini-events in pubs and restaurants for those who would otherwise spend the day alone and providing a hamper full of goodies; to some, this will be their only gift.

Ellie Burns, the Event Coordinator at the Marmalade Trust, commented:

For many, Christmas can be a sad, lonely and even dreaded time. We don’t want anyone to spend Christmas Day alone if they don’t want to, so we provide a range of events and visits to those experiencing loneliness.

She added:

Having support from businesses such as GWP is a great help and enables us to reach more people during this time.

The Marmalade Trust, founded in 2013, is the only charity in the world dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness.

Through various projects, it identifies the people most at risk of experiencing loneliness in society, signpost them to the proper support and resources and empowers them to make new friendships and connections. They also aim to raise awareness about loneliness across all sections of society.

Jay Daggar, Sales Manager at GWP Packaging, commented:

When The Marmalade Trust approached us, we were happy to help. Loneliness can be particularly acute during the festive period, but it is clear that the charity does some fantastic work to help those who may be experiencing this over a long period.

Besides their involvement with The Marmalade Trust, GWP has supported various other community groups and Christmas projects.

For example, GWP has provided extensive support for The Swindon Food Collective (formerly Swindon Foodbank) and, more recently, Devizes Foodbank.

Besides this, GWP has sponsored The Cricklade Band’s Christmas performances. It has even supplied cardboard Christmas trees for primary school children to decorate (a similar project in 2015 also saw trees decorated by students given to Whitbourne House care home in Swindon).

Other projects in 2022 included donating materials to GCSE pupils, supporting a mental health initiative, and sponsoring “cardboard ninja” Ben Edmonds‘ workshops (including course places for Ukrainian children).

Jay commented:

As a business, we understand it is important to support local groups and charities. We are delighted to be able to help organisations such as The Marmalade Trust and others in the local community wherever possible.

For further information on The Marmalade Trust, you can visit their website at www.marmaladetrust.org.

For more details of GWP’s work in the local community and how you can get involved, please view the news section of this site.