The idea
Every year Chapter supports 200 people living with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia. Many of our service users are very isolated, live on a low income, and have limited friendship groups and family contact. Christmas is often a difficult and lonely time for them.
With your kind support, we can help make their Christmas special by working with them to organise a Christmas meal event and afternoon of festive activities for 45 people living with a serious mental illness.
The meal will be held as close to Christmas Day as possible and will take place in Chester.
Up until last year this was an annual event for Chapter, but Covid-19 meant that we had to cancel the celebrations. This greatly impacted on our service users as many of them are alone of Christmas Day and will not attend any other festive events.
What we'll deliver
- A Christmas meal and entertainment for 45 people, with serious mental ill-health, in a local hotel/venue in Chester
- A soft drink to all 45 attendees
- A Christmas gift to 45 people living with serious mental illness
- A pick me up pack to all 45 attendees (containing a Christmas card, activities/quizzes, and Chapter support info)
- A guest appearance from Santa at the event
- Entertainment, quizzes and group activities at the event
Why it's a great idea
With your kind support, we can help some of the most vulnerable people living with serious mental ill-health feel less isolated and alone this Christmas.
Benefits our project will bring include:
- Reducing isolation and loneliness at Christmas for people living with serious mental ill-health
- Giving people with serious mental illness the opportunity to make new friends and friendship groups
- Increasing the self-worth and wellbeing levels of those who attend
- Empowering Chapter service users living with serious mental illnesses to plan, book, and manage the Christmas meal event
- Volunteering opportunities for people living with serious mental illnesses to help out at the event
- Volunteering opportunities for local people/companies to get involved
- Signposting vulnerable people to other mental health services that are available to them
- Reducing the risk of suicide and hospital admissions due to mental ill-health
Steps to get it done
- Christmas Meal for 45 people living with serious mental illness
We know there is a clear need for this Christmas meal event based on the feedback we receive from our service users. The Christmas meal is always mentioned and seen in a very positive light. It is something our clients look forward to and want to get involved with and attend.
Feedback from previous events
'The Christmas meal was a life saver, I had something to look forward to after being unwell and after Christmas I felt I knew more people at Chapter.' – service user (2019)
'It was a lovely… and I think I'm not alone in saying I really appreciate the quality of the event... I felt valued as a human being for the first time in years.' – service user (2019)
After having no option but to cancel last year's Christmas event due to Covid-19, we are determined to make this year's event the best ever.
We are a small charity with a big heart - driven by our desire to offer help, kindness, and opportunities to the people we support - helping to better their lives.
