SEEVIC

Essential Skills students visited the Women’s Aid Refuge in Basildon to provide a little festive cheer to families who have been affected by domestic violence. The group of students, who all have learning difficulties and/or disabilities, delivered over 100 Christmas gifts for the women and children who have sought temporary accommodation at the refuge.

Lewis Guiver, 18, from Wickford said: “We have made a really good collection and have lots of presents to give away. The best part was wrapping all the presents for the children to give to their mums. It was hard to wrap them all up but I think they will really like them.”

The students began their appeal back in November by asking their friends, family members, other students and College staff for donations that they could give to the families at the centre. It followed on from a successful appeal for the homeless that they completed at the College last year.

Essential Skills Tutor Janet Perry said: “We have had a fantastic response from everyone including staff and students at the College. People have been really generous and we have been overwhelmed by the amount of lovely gifts we have received.”

The collection of gifts is made up of toiletries, crackers, mince pies, Christmas cakes, shortbread biscuits, new toys, games, colouring books and pencils, cuddly toys, selection boxes and boxes of chocolates. The students also wrapped up individual parcels for the children at the refuge to give to their mums as well as wrapping all the gift boxes to make them look colourful and festive.

Sarah Smith, 18, from Hockley said: “I’m really pleased with all the things we collected. I brought in some smellies for the mums and some toys for the children who live there. I think it’s important for everyone to have a special Christmas wherever they live.”

The appeal also forms part of a community project that the student’s have to complete as part of their studies, which requires them to help a group within the community. As part of this module representatives from various community groups came to the College to give a talk to the students. The students then voted on which group they would like to help as part of their project and they chose to support Women’s Aid.