We were really touched when Waterstones Gloucester reached out to us to team up for a lovely Christmas giving initiative this year. Becky, Waterstones Store Manager, wanted to set up a giving tree to support a local charity. Christmas gift tags are attached to the tree and shoppers can select one or more to buy along with their purchases and the book detailed on the gift tag is then bought and donated to a looked after child in our care.

We spoke to all of our local foster carers to find out what would be the perfect book gift for their young people and were then able to come up with a list of genders and ages of our children and what book they would love to receive for Christmas.

Shoppers in the Gloucester store have been so generous that 41 Christmas wishes were quickly granted and Becky and her team have put together a second round so that the children may receive two presents each.

Becky says, "For me, this is important for two reasons:

"Firstly, with the state that the world is in at the moment, it is such a heart-warming reminder that there are kind people in abundance, and that our natural state is not one of division but one of compassion. Giving to these children feels really in keeping with true Christmas spirit and it is bringing me such joy to see people's generosity and kindness towards strangers.

"Secondly, the power of a book is phenomenal. I am keenly aware that many of these children will not have had access to literature in the same way that children who aren't in foster care might have. Reading genuinely changes lives. I am excited by the thought that perhaps one of these gifts could change a child's life forever in a really positive way.

"There's a quote from the film You've Got Mail which I often think of, 'when you read a book as a child, it becomes part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.' I truly believe this, and what a wonderful positive Christmas gift to give a child in a tough situation."

There’s nothing like a bit of Christmas spirit and how much the community has gotten behind this scheme is truly heart warming. To the Gloucester residents who have kindly gifted a book, on behalf of all our children and young people, thank you so much. The kindness of strangers and power of community is something we absolutely believe in at Community Foster Care.

Merry Christmas and much love x