EVERYONE LOVES A PRESENT AT CHRISTMAS...
...but for many vulnerable children and families in Southeast Europe Christmas serves as a reminder of their isolation and poverty. By supporting House of Opportunity’s Christmas Box Appeal your company could help to spread joy to thousands of people and prevent modern slavery.
House of Opportunity and its Bulgarian partner organsation, FSCI, work together to deliver the Christmas Box Appeal each year.
How the Christmas Box Appeal works
Public donate presents
Our supporters fill up wrapped shoeboxes with carefully chosen, appropriate items. The appeal enjoys the support of schools, churches, businesses and community groups from all over the South of England, London, the Midlands and South Wales.
Sorting & packing
Hundreds of volunteers give their time to sort & pack donated Christmas boxes in Salisbury, where we are based.
Get trucking
The Christmas boxes make their way by road to Bulgaria, where more volunteers give their time to unload and distribute the presents.
Spread a little joy...
Christmas boxes are given to children and families in orphanages, Roma communities, refugee centres, women’s refuges and schools and kindergartens in poor rural communities.
More than Christmas shoeboxes...
How can a Christmas box help to prevent modern slavery?
It costs thousands of pounds to run the appeal so we ask for a £4 donation for each shoebox made. Any surplus will go to support projects like the House of Opportunity Programme…
Thousands of vulnerable young people are trafficked throughout Europe every year
“The team of House of Opportunity were the reason I did not give up. They gave me hope.”
Maria* had every reason to be fearful of the future when she was faced with leaving the institution in Bulgaria where she grew up and having to find her own way in the world.
Throughout Southeast Europe, tens of thousands of vulnerable young people just like Maria are exploited by human traffickers, or fall into extreme poverty. Many end up on our streets, through no choice of their own.
The House of Opportunity Programme gave Maria the chance and the support that she needed to make positive choices. Maria is now married, has a young son and is a qualified kindergarten teacher.
*Name changed
The more you can do to sponsor the Christmas Box Appeal, the more resources we will have to release into life-changing projects like the House of Opportunity.
Christmas Box Appeal profile and costs in the UK
The appeal enjoys support from right across the south of England and Wales, and is growing in the Midlands and London. Up to 200 schools join in with the project and well over 100 churches, business and community groups, along with thousands of individuals and families who also get involved. Hundreds of people volunteer their time to help check and pack the donated presents every year.
We would like to grow the project, but there are significant costs that need to be met.
UK costs
Would your company help to meet the costs of this year's Christmas Box Appeal?
If your company would like to contribute either all or part of one of the above costs, or help the Christmas Box Appeal in kind, please get in touch with Rich at christmas@houseofopportunity.org or on 07562 794444.
WHO ARE WE?
Play Video
Introduction to House of Opportunity/FSCI
House of Opportunity is part of the FSCI Network – a partnership of organisations that combat poverty and marginalisation in Southeast Europe. Led by a dedicated team in Sofia, the FSCI Network is responsible for launching these programmes throughout the greater Balkan region.
Visit houseofopportunity.org to see the impact our work is making on the lives of vulnerable young people.
To help transform the lives of vulnerable young people, or to find out more, contact:
House of Opportunity
St Paul’s Church
Fisherton Street
Salisbury
SP2 7QW
01722 580192
enquiries@houseofopportunity.org
House of Opportunity is the operating name of FSCI (UK),
which is a Reg. Charity in England & Wales (1170914)
Foundation for Social Change & Inclusion is a Reg. Bulgarian NGO (175633540)