Bath-based charity Christmas for CAMHS is seeking volunteers to join them in preparing gifts for young people in hospital for their mental health over the festive season.
Volunteers at last year’s festive preparations | Photo © Christmas for CAMHS
The charity will be putting together more than 1,500 gifts, goodies and activities on 25th and 26th November in the city centre.
Volunteers are invited to help for a morning, afternoon or evening ‘elf duty’ shift, or even a whole day.
Tasks will include assembling individual and ward gifts, counting fidget toys and wrapping paper, batching homemade Christmas cards and fitting everything in boxes ready for Santa to take to CAMHS units across the UK.
Volunteers can be of any age but those aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Festive snacks and music will be available and Christmassy hats and jumpers are encouraged.
Christmas For CAMHS has been organising gifts for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service units across the country for 8 years.
The charity was started after trustee Dr Ro Bevan found that young people in mental health units rarely receive any donations, unlike their counterparts in hospital for physical ailments who are often given gifts.
Last year one of the volunteers said: “Christmas for CAMHS is a very important cause and it’s simple and fun to volunteer. It feels like you’re making a huge difference to real people.”
Anyone interested in signing up for a shift during the packing weekend can register via https://bit.ly/packing-xmas4camhs or by emailing [email protected].
To make a donation to support the charity’s work, you can visit their JustGiving page.
