Cait from our Aspire team on what Christmas means to her
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The Caritas Advent appeal this year is asking us all to shine a spotlight on what is really important at Christmas.
If you haven’t seen it, you can take a look now by visiting our Bee There website page…
Here, Cait from our Aspire team, tells us more about Christmas in our services, and what the true meaning of Christmas is to her…
What does Caritas and our service mean to you and what do you do here?
I work as a project support officer for the social action team which means I support the team in a variety of ways. For our Aspire education service, for example, I support the teachers and volunteers to make sure their lessons run smoothly. I also have a background working with refugee and asylum seeker communities, so I provide holistic support and signposting to the students too.
What is the true meaning of Christmas to you and how will you put it into action this year?
I think the true meaning of Christmas is to open up our homes and hearts to everyone, regardless of faith, culture, or background.
This is also what we do in our Aspire ESOL classrooms. We welcome and celebrate every student and embrace their diverse experiences and backgrounds. This Christmas more than ever, that’s a really important message.
How will you #BeeThere for others this Christmas?
I will #BeeThere for others by lending a helping hand and a listening ear to as many people as I can. For many, this can be a really lonely time of year. Just sharing a cup of tea and having a conversation can uplift someone.
What would you like to shine a spotlight on this Christmas?
I would like to shine a spotlight on the incredible team of tutors that teach our Aspire education classes. They are full of positivity and endless patience, and do everything within their power to inspire and build the confidence of students.
I’d also like to spotlight our amazing students. They are so hard working, dedicated, and driven. Our Caritas centres, Cornerstone and the Lalley Centre, miss their enthusiasm and energy during half terms and summer holidays!
What’s really important at this time of year?
Definitely spending time with family and friends! For many, our Aspire education ESOL classes are like a ‘family,’ and celebrating with our unconventional, community-based families is really important, especially when for many their families may be in different countries. We’ll be having Christmas parties in the last week of term to celebrate the festivities and have fun!
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