Haydon Wick Christmas Parcel Scheme – A Personal Reflection 🌲🎁

Supporting vulnerable residents

Haydon Wick Christmas Parcel Scheme – A Personal Reflection 🌲🎁

Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of being involved in the Haydon Wick Christmas Parcel Scheme, taking part with my children both last year and again this year.

This weekend, Councillors, parish council staff and volunteers came together to pack Christmas parcels for residents across Haydon Wick. Deliveries then took place across the parish, and I was pleased to be part of that too, alongside my children, accompanying volunteers to personally deliver parcels to residents in their homes.

What makes this meaningful for me is seeing the scheme through different perspectives. Through the eyes of residents, it is about being remembered and valued. Through the eyes of volunteers, it is about giving time and kindness. Through the eyes of my children, who helped with packing and deliveries both last year and again this year, it is about learning compassion and community responsibility. Through my own eyes as a councillor, having taken part last year and again this year, it is about continuity, presence and community connection year on year.

During deliveries, speaking to residents was heart warming, some had written cards in advance to pass on gratitude, others were waiting in with excitement for their parcel to arrive, and many genuine smiles at the door. Taking time for conversation and listening to residents’ reflections made the experience all the more special. Those smiles, the conversations on the doorstep and the sheer gratitude will stay with me.

It was good to see fellow councillors involved on the day, including Cllr Leigh Jackson, Cllr jaclyn Ireland, Cllr Rebecca Ross and Cllr Richard Hailstone, working together to support residents across Haydon Wick, with the office team productively coordinating the morning ensuring parcels were organised and deliveries ran smoothly.

Thank you to everyone involved, from staff and volunteers to the local businesses who sponsored the scheme, and most importantly to the residents who welcomed us so warmly.