Thanks to Steve King for this report, and for the one last week about Stert Street in days gone by …
It wasn’t until seven year old Megan (facing the camera) saw a woman sleeping rough on the streets of Abingdon that she realised there are many less fortunate people in the world, not least, children who won’t be getting a Christmas present this year, so she asked her mum what could she do to help.
They found a charity called “Kids Out” who help children caught up in domestic violence situations, and Megan decided to hold a party in aid of them. She invited her entire class from St Nicolas School, Abingdon, and their families. The only stipulation was that each person should bring a new, ready wrapped Christmas present which Megan would then pass on to “Kids Out”.
Saturday afternoon saw approximately 40 children plus their parents arrive at Peachcroft centre where they danced and played games to the “Peoples Party” disco, had their faces painted by “Carols” face painters and ate and drank plenty, courtesy of her Mum, and Nan , and at the end of the day Megan had collected an amazing 74 parcels/presents for Kid’s Out !
Granddad Steve says “Thanks for all those who came and helped out, and to Tesco, Abingdon for their support too. Watch out! This story could be in the Abingdon Herald as well.”
Well done kids, especially Megan, you are all a credit to your parents, your school and Abingdon.
It is a disgrace that M P’s are giving millions of £s in foreign aid while cutting services for our own population. They gave 25 million to China who has a space program. Some M P’s spend more on a bottle of wine than some families have to spend on food for a week. Has any M P from our area visited a local food bank or been the least bit interested in the disadvantaged in the area? I think not.
Janet – the poverty in some parts of china is appauling. 13% of their population – which is double the population of the uk – lives on less than a dollar a day. These are real people with all the feelings and issues we face too and personally i’m proud that we live in a country (where the average income is $100 a day) that is committed to helping where it can, not just in the narrow confines of our own geographic boundaries.
Well said ,Iain. Well done St. Nic’s School. The China thing is a red herring (as Jesus taught too, I think). So we shall be singing for Christian Aid in the Market Place again on Friday, weather permitting!! Merry Christ-mas!
If poverty is a dreadful problem in China and India why are these countries not addressing the problem and instead spending millions on space programs? Playing the foreign benefactor apparently has more kudos then helping the homeless and poor in this country. I do not know where the average income figures come from. We now have ‘0’ hours contracts, unemployment and jobs paying no more than the minimum wage. Hence the rise of food banks in the UK. As someone once said, “we do not like to admit we have poor in Oxfordshire”.
Good questions, but still a red herring in relation to the work being done!
Janet – i’m not seeking to belittle the problemssome people face in the uk, but taking money away from people who’s need is often even more desperate cannot be the right answer.
The china figures i quoted come from the workd bank, i’ve checked the uk average income on the office of national statistics as £483 per week which is £69 a day which is approximately $100.
Incidentally while i was checking the stats i noticed another which is that “virtually noone” (and this was not qualified so i cant comment on what number that actually means) in the uk is living on less than $4 a day – even outpr very poorest people are four times as wealthy as the people we’re collectively helping in china, india, sub saharan africa and many other places.
Well, whilst I support and applaud your sentiments re China etc I think that Janet has voiced what a lot of people in the UK will be thinking at the moment.
The British are, by and large, a very welcoming and generous nation and always ‘step up to the mark’ when financial aid is needed no matter where in the world.
However, all of us are seeing every day the cuts to Public Services in the UK, and all of the situations that Janet has described; as well as everyone feeling a bit beleaguered by money worries and resposibilities.
Side by side with this news, there is also the message that nations such as China and India etc have burgeoning economies, and they have people with excessive wealth with consequent expanding consumerism. Small wonder is it that people tend to feel that the rich in these countries (and their politicians) should be making some overt attempts to address their national problems.
Nevertheless, I do feel that the richer nations have a responsibility to care for the world’s less fortunate, and I shall be giving to Charity this year, as always. However, I can see the other point of view. It is a natural reaction to what we see in the media.
I was in Beijing about 2 months ago, which coincided with their national day. Everywhere was thronged with masses of Chinese people. All the children were well dressed and looked well nourished. On the motorways we were in traffic queues along with thousands of young Chinese all in new cars. We were told the Chinese like to shop in the UK as all the designer goods are genuine. I went down to Tianjin and then on to Shanghai. Although I did see some beggars there were not as many as on the streets of London. Although China has many poor the country is now wealthy and can in theory deal with its social problems if the will is there
I agree with all you say Cassandra. I find it reprehensible that the chinese government is doing so little to address the needs of the 130m people living on less than a dollar a day. My understanding is these are mainly living in rural areas, and as such are less visible to tourists than the areas of desperate urban poverty that exist in the major cities of countries like India and Brazil (both also economically successful countries).
Just an aside
Some of the poorest nations on earth support the most people in need. When people flee war torn countries they usually try not to go too far so neighbouring countries are stuck in a position where they have to help with what little they have to spare.
Figures from the UNHCR show that Pakistan, Iran, and Syria are hosting the most refugees, not the UK as many people here seem to think.
The UK governments have always known what I stated in my first paragraph and that is why they donate large sums to help those in need elsewhere.
As I have said before on this blog, we live in a place where no bombs fall, no snipers lurk and no despots order the murder of those who challenge them. We should count our blessings, not snipe at the effort of a little girl who has done a wonderful thing for people she may never meet but feels a sense of duty toward.
Thank you Rachel-the other one, I must admitt to being somewhat disapointed by the highjacking of my grand daughters kind and thoughtful work by those wishing to make a political statement !
I think that no-one here was making any kind of attempt to belittle or highjack the worthy attempts of the kind little girl. I think that everyone appreciates that there are generous and caring people around. A majority attitude in the UK I think.
However, a blog is there for people to people to discuss issues and, as such, opinions should not be criticised.
I think also that the point brought up about Government Aid (wise or not ,and without the population consensus), in no way connects to the issue of ordinary people (such as us here) caring and giving out of personal choice. And that surely is what the little girl’s efforts are all about?