STRUGGLING families will be able to enjoy a brighter Christmas thanks to a hamper from Weaver Vale Housing Trust and the Vale Royal Lions.

The organisations have worked together to support vulnerable families and individuals, supplying them with hampers and assistance towards heating bills.

The Lions kindly donated 15 large family hampers and also contributed £50 towards the Trust’s ‘Light Up Christmas’ campaign, which raises money for tenants who are struggling with the cost of heating their homes.

Staff from the Trust’s support and wellbeing team will personally delivered hampers to residents.

Melanie Davenport, community independence manager at Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: “Christmas can be a distressing and challenging time for some families. We know this from the number of people the Trust supports at this time each year.

“Many people struggle financially at Christmas. We are supporting a number of people who find themselves in financial difficulty – people who often have to choose between eating or heating their home.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to the Vale Royal Lion for their generous donations. Families receiving our hampers often experience poverty, poor mental & physical health and domestic abuse.

"They are some of the most vulnerable people living in our neighbourhood and the hampers make a big difference to their wellbeing.”

Penny Tatt from the Vale Royal Lions said: “Everyone deserves to enjoy the festive period without worrying about how they will buy even the most basic of things.

“The donations of hampers and assistance towards fuel and electricity will help some of those families struggling over Christmas.”