Christmas newsletterDear friends,

It’s been quite a year! And – much like the past 149 – you’ve been such an important part of it.

We’ve had an eventful 12 months at Action for Children. You’ve helped us celebrate our 150th birthday and supported the launch of a vital new campaign, Choose Childhood. This campaign is so important, and you can read all about it later in this newsletter.

Our birthday celebrations kicked off in earnest at the Methodist Conference at the end of June. It was great to chat to so many of you at both our market stall and fringe event.

A big thank you to everyone who held an Action for Children Sunday service or celebration for us this year. It was wonderful to see the pictures from your services, and to hear about the warm welcome our colleagues received at your churches. We hope you’ll keep the celebrations going for the rest of the year!

With Christmas just around the corner, there are lots of opportunities to support our work with children. You’ll find all the information and resources you need to plan your events in this mailing.

We wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas, and a wonderful New Year.

Thank you and God bless,

Jessica Taylor Head of Community Fundraising and Retail

Karis Kolawole Head of Faith Partnerships

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Safe andhappychildhood

September 2019

Choose ChildhoodMore needs to be done to protect and support vulnerable children in the UK. Our Choose Childhood campaign calls on the government to act, now.

For hundreds of thousands of children today, childhood hurts. All over the UK, vulnerable children are being ignored, left without support to face abuse, neglect, poverty and poor mental health.

These children have no choice over their circumstances. But we can choose to help them. That’s why we’re calling on the government to come up with a national action plan that puts children first and protects them from harm. And we need you to join us.

Add your voice to the campaign and demand a safe and happy childhood for every child. Visit: actionforchildren.org.uk/choosechildhood

Christmas newsletterAnnwyl ffrindiau,

Sôn am flwyddyn! Ac fel y 149 mlynedd arall, rydych chi wedi bod yn rhan bwysig iawn ohoni.

Mae’r 12 mis diwethaf wedi bod yn gyfnod prysur iawn i Gweithredu dros Blant. Rydych chi wedi’n helpu ni i ddathlu’n pen-blwydd yn 150 ac wedi’n helpu ni i lansio ymgyrch newydd hanfodol, Dewis Plentyndod. Mae’r ymgyrch hon mor bwysig, a gallwch ddarllen amdani yn nes ymlaen yn y newyddlen hon.

Dechreuodd y dathliadau pen-blwydd o ddifri yng Nghynhadledd y Methodistiaid yn niwedd Mehefin. Roedd hi’n braf cael sgwrs â chynifer ohonoch wrth ein stondin yn y farchnad ac yn y digwyddiad ymylol.

Diolch o galon i bawb wnaeth gynnal gwasanaeth Sul Gweithredu dros Blant neu ddathliad o’n gwaith eleni. Roedd hi’n braf iawn gweld lluniau o’ch gwasanaethau, a chlywed am y croeso cynnes a gafodd ein cydweithwyr yn eich eglwysi. Gobeithio y byddwch yn dal i ddathlu am weddill y flwyddyn!

Ar drothwy’r Nadolig, mae llawer o gyfleoedd i chi gefnogi’n gwaith gyda phlant. Mae’r holl wybodaeth a’r adnoddau sydd eu hangen i gynllunio eich digwyddiadau i’w gweld yn y pecyn hwn.

Nadolig llawen a heddychlon i chi, a Blwyddyn Newydd dda.

Diolch, a bendith Duw arnoch,

Jessica Taylor Pennaeth Cyfathrebu Codi Arian a Manwerthu

Karis Kolawole Pennaeth Partneriaethau Ffydd

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Plentyndodhapusdiogel

Medi 2019

Dewis PlentyndodMae angen gwneud rhagor i amddiffyn a chefnogi plant sy’n agored i niwed ym Mhrydain. Mae ein hymgyrch Dewis Plentyndod yn galw ar y llywodraeth i weithredu, nawr.

I filoedd ar filoedd o blant heddiw, mae plentyndod yn brifo. Ym mhob cwr o Brydain, mae plant agored i niwed yn cael eu hanwybyddu, a’u gadael i wynebu camdriniaeth, esgeulustod, tlodi ac iechyd meddwl gwael ar eu pen eu hunain.

Dydy’r plant hyn ddim yn gallu dewis eu hamgylchiadau. Ond gallwn ni ddewis eu helpu nhw. Dyna pam rydyn ni’n galw ar y llywodraeth i lunio cynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol sy’n rhoi plant yn gyntaf ac yn eu hamddiffyn rhag niwed. Ac rydyn ni angen i chi ymuno â ni.

Ychwanegwch eich llais chi at yr ymgyrch a mynnwch blentyndod diogel a hapus i bob plentyn. Ewch i: actionforchildren.org.uk/choosechildhood

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Time to celebrate

Thanks to our lovely supporters at Buckley Cross Methodist Church who celebrated our birthday with an Action for Children Sunday talk.

Supporters from Winterton Methodist Church took part in the Scunthorpe Step Out for Children walk and held a 150th birthday party. Thanks, everyone!

Commemorating our founderA plaque to commemorate the Reverend Thomas Bowman Stephenson was unveiled at Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle, in August. Stephenson was baptised at the church in 1840.

It was a fantastic way to mark our 150th anniversary, and Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central, and David Cook, Lord Mayor of the city, joined Julie Bentley, our CEO, for the ceremony.

Len Raven (pictured with Julie), aged 84, was one of our very special guests. Len lived at our Edgeworth home in Lancashire between 1939 and 1950.

Celebrations to mark our 150th birthday were held in churches and community halls all over the country. There were parties, special services and lots of cake!

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Amser i ddathlu

Diolch i’n cefnogwyr arbennig yn Eglwys Fethodistaidd Buckley Cross a fu’n dathlu ein pen-blwydd â sgwrs Sul Gweithredu dros Blant.

Bu cefnogwyr o Eglwys Fethodistaidd Winterton yn cymryd rhan mewn taith gerdded Step Out for Children yn Scunthorpe a chynaliasant barti pen-blwydd 150 oed. Diolch i bawb!

Cofio am ein sylfaenyddDadorchuddiwyd plac i goffáu’r Parch Thomas Bowman Stephenson yn Eglwys Fethodistaidd Brunswick, Newcastle, ym mis Awst. Cafodd Stephenson ei fedyddio yn yr eglwys yn 1840.

Roedd yn ffordd wych o nodi 150 mlynedd ers sefydlu’r elusen, ac ymunodd Chi Onwurah, yr AS dros Ganol Newcastle, a David Cook, Arglwydd Faer y ddinas, â Julie Bentley, ein Prif Weithredwr, yn y seremoni.

Un o’n gwesteion arbennig iawn oedd Len Raven (yn y llun gyda Julie), sy’n 84 oed. Bu Len yn byw yn ein cartref yn Edgeworth yn Sir Gaerhirfryn rhwng 1939 a 1950.

Dathlwyd pen-blwydd yr elusen yn 150 oed mewn eglwysi a neuaddau cymunedol ym mhob cwr o Brydain. Cafwyd partïon, gwasanaethau arbennig a llawer o gacennau!

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Big Christmas CardBe kind to the environment by sending your festive wishes with the Action for Children Big Christmas Card. This A2 Christmas poster is perfect for your church or office wall. All you need to do is write your Christmas message on the poster and donate to Action for Children.

Get in touch with your local community fundraiser to order the Big Christmas Card: actionforchildren.org.uk/find-your-fundraiser

Team up with Action for ChildrenEvery one of our charity partners makes a huge difference to the lives of children, young people and families in the UK. If you, your company or someone you know would like to team up with us, please let us know. Get in touch with your local community fundraiser to find out more.

Order your diaries and Christmas cards

Can you help?Our Media team is working on a picture story about our wonderful old collection boxes. We have several boxes in our archives but we’re missing a few that we’d love to feature. If you have an old collection box, please get in touch with Beth McDonald on beth.mcdonald@actionforchildren.org.uk or 07940 441770.

Stick the Big Christmas Card up on your church, hall or office wall, write a festive

greeting in one of the spaces, and make a donation.

Not only will you spread Christmas cheer, you’ll show your support for vulnerable

children all over the UK. This is so important because – today – children are telling us

that childhood hurts. Children like Grace.

Grace was just three when she and her mum had to leave their home to escape abuse.

At six, the abuse started again at the hands of her new stepfather.

“I was just a child. I had to watch what was going on, knowing something bad was

happening to my mum, and knowing there was nothing I could do. Childhood is

supposed to be about innocence and nobody should ever lose that, but I did. I think my

childhood stopped when I was about four. I had to grow up fast.”

Grace couldn’t choose her childhood. But you can choose to help. With your support,

we can make sure more children grow up safe and happy.

Please give your donation to:

Wish your friends a happy Christmas with Action for Children’s Big Christmas Card.

Big ChristmasThe

Card

Registered charity nos. 1097940/SC038092. Company no. 4764232. © Action for Children 2019. AfC 1005

Do your thing

Grab a bargain by picking up last year’s stock of Christmas cards for the discounted price of £1 per pack. You can buy the cards from your local community fundraiser.

We’re also selling Christmas cards in our new brand. Please visit charitycardsonline.com/actionforchildren or call our Supporter Services team on 01934 522920. You can order 2020 diaries, too!

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Cerdyn Nadolig MawrMeddyliwch am yr amgylchedd, ac anfonwch eich dymuniadau Nadoligaidd â Cherdyn Nadolig Mawr Gweithredu dros Blant. Mae’r poster Nadolig maint A2 yn berffaith ar gyfer wal eglwys neu swyddfa. Y cyfan y mae angen i chi ei wneud yw ysgrifennu eich neges Nadoligaidd ar y poster a rhoi cyfraniad i Gweithredu dros Blant.

Cysylltwch â’ch swyddog codi arian lleol i archebu’r Cerdyn Nadolig Mawr: actionforchildren.org.uk/find-your-fundraiser

Ymunwch â Gweithredu dros BlantMae pob un o’r elusennau sy’n bartneriaid i ni’n gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr i fywydau plant, pobl ifanc a theuluoedd ym Mhrydain. Os hoffech chi, eich cwmni neu rywun rydych yn ei adnabod ymuno â ni, gadewch i ni wybod. Cysylltwch â’ch swyddog codi arian lleol i gael rhagor o wybodaeth.

Archebwch eich dyddiaduron a’ch cardiau Nadolig

Allwch chi helpu? Mae ein tîm Cyfryngau yn paratoi eitem am ein casgliad arbennig o hen flychau casglu. Er bod gennym lawer o flychau yn ein casgliad, mae ambell un arall y byddem wrth ein bodd yn ei weld. Os oes gennych chi hen flwch casglu, cysylltwch â Beth McDonald drwy anfon ebost i beth.mcdonald@actionforchildren.org.uk neu ffonio 07940 441770.

Stick the Big Christmas Card up on your church, hall or office wall, write a festive greeting in one of the

spaces, and make a donation.

Not only will you spread Christmas cheer, you’ll show your support for vulnerable children all over

the UK. This is so important because – today – children are telling us that childhood hurts.

Children like Grace.

Grace was just three when she and her mum had to leave their home to escape abuse. At six, the abuse

started again at the hands of her new stepfather.

“I was just a child. I had to watch what was going on, knowing something bad was happening to my

mum, and knowing there was nothing I could do. Childhood is supposed to be about innocence and

nobody should ever lose that, but I did. I think my childhood stopped when I was about four. I had to

grow up fast.”

Grace couldn’t choose her childhood. But you can choose to help. With your support,

we can make sure more children grow up safe and happy.

Please give your donation to:

Wish your friends a happy Christmas with

Action for Children’s Big Christmas Card.

Big ChristmasThe

Card

Registered charity nos. 1097940/SC038092. Company no. 4764232. © Action for Children 2019. AfC 1005. | Rhifau Cofrestru’r Elusen 1097940/SC038092/Rhif Cwmni 4764232. © Gweithredu dros Blant 2019. 1005.

Gosodwch y Cerdyn Nadolig Mawr ar wal eich eglwys, neuadd neu swyddfa, ysgrifennwch gyfarchiad

Nadoligaidd yn un o’r bylchau, a gwnewch gyfraniad.

Byddwch yn lledaenu hwyl yr ŵyl, ac yn dangos eich cefnogaeth i blant agored i niwed ym mhob rhan

o Brydain. Mae hyn mor bwysig oherwydd – heddiw – mae plant yn dweud wrthym bod plentyndod yn

brifo. Plant fel Grace.

Dim ond tair oed oedd Grace pan fu’n rhaid iddi hi a’i mam adael eu cartref oherwydd eu bod yn cael eu

cam-drin. Pan oedd hi’n chwech, dechreuodd y cam-drin eto, dan law ei llystad newydd.

“Dim ond plentyn o’n i. Ro’n i’n gorfod gwylio’r cyfan; gwybod bod rhywbeth drwg yn digwydd i mam,

ac nad oedd dim byd y gallwn i ei wneud. Mae plentyndod i fod i olygu diniweidrwydd, a ddylai neb golli

hynny byth, ond fe wnes i. Rwy’n credu bod fy mhlentyndod i wedi dod i ben pan o’n i tua pedair. Wnes i

orfod tyfu i fyny’n gyflym.”

Allai Grace ddim dewis ei phlentyndod. Ond gallwch chi ddewis helpu. Â’ch cefnogaeth chi, gallwn ni

wneud yn siŵr bod rhagor o blant yn cael plentyndod diogel a hapus.

Rhowch eich cyfraniad i:

Dymunwch Nadolig llawen i’ch ffrindiau â

Cherdyn Nadolig Mawr Gweithredu dros Blant.

Cerdyn NadoligY

Mawr

Rhywbeth i chi ei wneud

Beth am gael bargen drwy brynu cardiau Nadolig y llynedd am bris is o £1 am becyn? Gallwch brynu’r cardiau gan eich swyddog codi arian lleol.

Rydym hefyd yn gwerthu cardiau Nadolig â’r brand newydd. Ewch i charitycardsonline.com/actionforchildren neu rhowch ganiad i’n tîm Gwasanaethau Cefnogwyr ar 01934 522920. Gallwch archebu dyddiaduron 2020 hefyd!

Plentyndod hapus a diogelMae Gweithredu dros Blant yn amddiffyn ac yn cefnogi plant a phobl ifanc, gan roi gofal a chymorth ymarferol ac emosiynol, sicrhau bod eu lleisiau’n cael eu clywed, ac ymgyrchu i wneud gwelliannau parhaol i’w bywydau.

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Be aSecret Santa

for a vulnerable childthis Christmas

Help us reach the thousands of children who face Christmas without food, warmth and love.

Scan the QR code to add the Secret Santa invite to your calendar. You’ll be the first to know when the appeal launches – and to find out how you can help a vulnerable child this Christmas.

Be aSecret Santa

for a vulnerable childthis Christmas

Help us reach the thousands of children who face Christmas without food, warmth and love.

With your support, we can give more children a hot meal, a present and a safe place to sleep.

Text Joy to 70175 to give £10 now or visit iamsanta.org.uk/child

Registered charity nos. 1097940/SC038092. Company no. 4764232. © Action for Children 2019. 1015.

Texts cost £10, plus one message at your standard network rate. We receive 100% of your donation. We’d love to stay in touch with you via phone and SMS to tell you more about our work and how you can support it. To give £10 but opt-out from any future contact text Joy NO to 70175. Customer care 0300 123 2112.

Be aSecret Santa

for a vulnerable childthis Christmas

Help us reach the thousands of children who face Christmas without food, warmth and love.

Scan the QR code to add the Secret Santa invite to your calendar. You’ll be the first to know when the appeal launches – and to find out how you can help a vulnerable child this Christmas.

Beth am fod yn Santa Cudd

I blentyn agored i niwed y Nadolig hwn?

Helpwch ni i gyrraedd y miloedd o blant sy’n wynebu Nadolig heb fwyd, cynhesrwydd a chariad.

Â’ch cymorth chi, gallwn sicrhau bod mwy o blant yn cael pryd cynnes o fwyd, anrheg a lle diogel i gysgu.

Tecstiwch Joy i 70175 i roi £10 nawr neu ewch i iamsanta.org.uk/child

Rhifau Cofrestru’r Elusen 1097940/SC038092/Rhif Cwmni 4764232. © Gweithredu dros Blant 2019. 1015.

Mae neges destun yn costio £10, a chost un neges ar gyfradd safonol eich rhwydwaith. Byddwn yn derbyn 100% o’ch cyfraniad. Byddem yn hoffi cadw mewn cysylltiad â chi, drwy ffonio neu anfon SMS, a rhoi mwy o wybodaeth i chi am ein gwaith a sut y gallwch ein cefnogi. I roi £10, ond dewis peidio â chadw mewn cysylltiad, tecstiwch Child NO i 70175. Gofal cwsmeriaid 0300 123 2112.