With the Cost-of-Living crisis still affecting many people, Suki Gill, Social Value Lead for the Restart Scheme, encouraged Serco Restart Scheme staff to donate new or pre-loved children’s gifts to give to Restart Scheme Participants for Christmas. 

Partnership Coordinator, Daryll Jones and Senior Job Coach, Megan Davies-Veness had a conversation about what they could do to support Participants from our Cardiff office. They decided to organise a ‘Toy Gifting Day’ on the 14th of December. Daryll reached out to Jobcentre Plus contacts in Cardiff and the District Single Point of Contact (SPOC) at Ebbw Vale, who were able to assist with toy donations. 

Daryll then had the idea that it would be great to have a toy box to store all the toys. He spoke to the Men’s Shed in Cardiff, ‘The Dusty Shed’ The Dusty Shed – Cameraderie, Creativity, Teamwork. Men’s Shed are a workshop where men spend time together to discuss issues and situations whilst offering life skills working on projects in the local community. They were able to make the toy box, and the Serco Restart Scheme donated the money for the cost of the materials to them.

On the day of the event, the office was in full festive cheer. Participants were greeted with decorations, music and a Christmas buffet including sausage rolls, mince pies and hot drinks. The Participants were then able to take any toys they needed for any children close to them. Over 300 toys were donated in total.

Staff in the office set up wrapping stations and wrapped the gifts for Participants, whilst chatting to them about any other Cost-of-Living support they needed at that time. 

A Participant who attended said:
“I am a mum to three children all under the age of 10. This service has truly helped me as buying gifts for my children is very hard and stressful as I have been struggling for money. Thank you!”

Daryll said: 

“Megan and I wanted to do something to bring support at a local level for the community. We had heard the Job Coaches in the office having lots of conversations about the financial difficulties Participants were having in the run up to Christmas and we wanted to take the pressure off a little. 
 

The Participants were so grateful and thankful. To see them leave with a smile on their face and know that we have been able to take the pressure of the expense of their Christmas Day a little made it all worthwhile.
 

We also thought it was important to engage with the local community to get them involved in supporting this event. Thank you to everyone who donated and to everyone in the Serco Wales Team for helping to organising a fantastic event. The day was brilliant!”