At East Ayrshire Carers Centre we support hundreds of Young Carers on a weekly basis between our centres in Kilmarnock, Cumnock, New Cumnock and Dalmellington. Our young people range in age from 5-25 and in some cases children as young as 5 can be caring for both parents or more than one member of their family.

Each week we run Young Carers groups from Monday to Thursday where our young people attend for 2 hours and in that time we play lots of games, do lots of activities and also provide them with a hot meal. This is a really valuable time for our young people as it’s time away from their caring role and time for them to have fun and be around other young people in similar situations.

Many of the children we support live in families that are experiencing financial hardship, and we know that in the past, many Young Carers have woken up on Christmas Day without any gifts at all. So we made a pledge that every young carer we support, along with their siblings, will receive something to open on Christmas Day.

But we can’t do this without help and luckily, every year, we are overwhelmed by the loving kindness and generosity of the public who go above and beyond to bring donations to us.

So we are asking for your help again this year and wondered if you would like to make a gift/toy donation or would think about making our young carers the recipients of your office Secret Santa.

We are looking for gifts for the following ages:

• Baby & toddler (for younger siblings of young carers)
• 5-8 year olds – boys/girls
• 9-12 year olds – boys/girls
• 13-15 year old boys/girls
• 16 years + boys/girls

Pyjamas, slippers, cosy hats, gloves and scarves are always a really big hit, along with arts and craft type activities and family games such as Jenga, Ker-Plunk etc.
Boys and girls of all ages are really into their superheroes and love Spiderman, Captain America, Iron Man, Captain Marvel and the gang! Dolls, teddies and action figures always go down a treat. Aftershave sets and beauty sets are a big hit for our older teenage Young Carers. Vouchers are always a great gift idea too.

Could we ask that the gifts are not wrapped and that they are new please or at least unused and are “as new”.

If you have larger second-hand items that you think are in great condition please email us to discuss – we have had donations of small foosball tables, bicycles etc in the past and have always managed to find the right homes for them too – but we like to speak to the families first.

We welcome donations up until 13th December – but we will take donations after that date too. Donations can be made to:

• Foregate office – open Mondays, Tues, Weds & Thursdays from 9am till 4.30 and Fridays till 3.30pm
• The Carers Cottage in the Howard Park, Kilmarnock on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-6pm
• Cumnock Carers Centre – 39 Barrhill Road on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 9-4pm
• Dalmellington Carers Centre (Former Library Building), Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9-3pm