Faculty to re-run Christmas appeal for poor families

A Christmas appeal to benefit vulnerable families in Fife with donations of presents and cash, is to be run again this year by the Faculty of Advocates.

It will be the fourth time that Maria Maguire QC has organised a collection in aid of the family support charity, Home-Start Glenrothes.

It is not all for the children, as Ms Maguire believes there are a lot of vulnerable parents, especially young mothers, who will not receive anything without help. "Many of the parents have no family support network as they themselves had difficult childhoods", she says.

"As well as our own members and staff, we have had wonderful support previously from the solicitors’ branch of the profession, and the judiciary, and we’re hoping that this year again, we can make a difference.

"Sadly, many families are living in desperate circumstances. We have made a real difference in the past, when the response has been fantastic. Home-Start Glenrothes and the families are very grateful and relieved that we are going to help them again."

Lindsey Brown of Home-Start Glenrothes said the impact of any gifts should not be underestimated.

"Just the other day, we had a young mother, on her own with 88p in the electricity meter, no gas, no nappies and very little food. We were able to sort her out from funds which we hold in reserve for emergencies like this, funds which came from the Faculty’s collection last year.

"She kept worrying about what she was going to do at Christmas. All she wanted was a wee trike for her toddler, nothing for herself, just a trike for her son. I was able to reassure her that she would get a trike for him, and it is thanks to the Faculty. She was just so delighted."

Click here for further details. Cash can be donated any time, and gifts handed in between 10 and 15 December. Ms Maguire can be contacted at maria.maguire@advocates.org.uk.