To help express our gratitude for the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2021 donations to include.org we’ve dedicated our next Free Easy Read resource to the theme of festive thankfulness.
A Big, Big Give Thank you
We’re celebrating the fantastic response to our Big Give Christmas Challenge fundraiser! We managed to raise over £20,000! What an incredible act of collective kindness this is, despite the ongoing challenges of Covid, and other pressures at this time of year.
SO much kindness. We’re blown away! This funding will enable Include to do so much more. Wishes can come true!
Free Easy Read
To help express our gratitude we’ve dedicated our next Free Easy Read resource to the theme of thankfulness.
An audio / sensory version will be shared here too very soon (sorry for the slight delay)
The download includes interesting facts, ideas and templates to create a thankfulness themed Christmas tree (or decorated plant!).
Did you know that research says that people who show gratitude are often healthier – both physically and mentally? And they even sleep better!
Things we’re thankful for
We asked some of our Include members, staff and volunteers what they are thankful for. Here is a taster of what we found…
Simon said he is thankful for his new baby nephew, friends and family. He and Philip also shared something they are both thankful for – the enjoyment of singing and dance. You can see them perform together here: https://youtu.be/hnv6rFGLsDw
Philip said that being thankful makes you feel happy; “it feels good in your mind”. Philip also said “I am grateful for my best friends and Include – the whole group – it means a lot to me and Simon”…”and I am also thankful for the birth of Jesus”.
Ellie said that she is thankful for her nephew, her family and another of her groups – Bloomin’ Arts https://bloominarts.org.uk/ where she performs in various shows.
She is grateful for her Complete Shakespeare book. Ellie also loves birthdays and her advent calendar!
The whole group had a shared thankfulness for good food. Penny is happy she has found some really good gluten-free mince pies.
Simon loves a roast. Ellie is looking forward to treating herself to some nice foods on her birthday.
Alix said that she is thankful for friends – old and new, as well as enjoying books and seeing festive lights.
Alix and Penny agreed they are both very thankful to all the wonderful volunteers who help Include all year round.
Jen said that she is grateful for friends, Include Choir, her parents and her plants. She has even decorated some of her plants!
We were all thankful for our Christmas decorations too. Josh did a great paper tree…
We talked about the fact that not everyone finds it easy to feel positive at Christmas time. Some people might miss loved ones or may not have a home. We are grateful if we can see loved ones and have a place to call home.
No matter who we are, or how we communicate we are often grateful for similar things.
Once again, from all of us here at Include, we want to say a great BIG thank you to everyone who supports us. The Big Give Christmas Challenge success in particular, will help us continue to build a more inclusive community in 2022.
Communications and Partnerships Manager