"No Care Leaver Should Be Alone on Christmas Day", A Heartwarming Holiday Initiative

Imperial Business School and W12 Together Create a Christmas to Remember for Care Leavers

W12 Together is a resident-led partnership dedicated to improving the lives of people in the Wormholt and White City areas of London. Their mission is to empower residents, foster community connections, and address local challenges through initiatives focused on youth engagement, health and wellbeing, and community activities. Over the festive break, Imperial’s Community Engagement Team and Imperial Business School partnered with W12 Together to create a Christmas Day celebration for 18 to 25-year-old care leavers. The initiative aimed to bring joy and connection to those who might otherwise have spent the holiday alone.

The project, centred around the theme "No care leaver should be alone on Christmas Day," involved W12 Together and Imperial student volunteers preparing for two days to create a festive celebration. Many students, unable to travel home, engaged with the local community by assembling personalized gift baskets, decorating the venue, and organizing activities. The Christmas lunch was the highlight of the day for many participants. Farial Missi, Senior Community Partnerships and Engagement Manager at Imperial remarked that the partnership between Imperial and W12 Together showcased how institutions and local communities can unite to create meaningful, lasting impact. She found it inspiring to see students connect with care leavers, bringing warmth and joy to their Christmas Day.

Mohammed Zaid Abid Dalla, Vice President of Societal Engagement for the Dean’s Student Advisory Council at Imperial Business School, reflected that the initiative highlighted the transformative power of community and connection. He felt privileged to be part of an event that brought joy to care leavers and strengthened their sense of purpose and belonging. The event was made possible through the collaboration of W12 Together, Imperial’s Community Engagement Team, Imperial Business School, Ed City, and WEST Youth Zone. This partnership demonstrated the power of working together to create meaningful, lasting experiences.

For the care leavers, the day was a celebration of togetherness, while for the volunteers, it highlighted the joy of giving back. Those interested in future events with the White City community were encouraged to contact Imperial’s Community Engagement Team at whitecity.community@imperial.ac.uk. The Christmas Day celebration organized by Imperial Business School, W12 Together, and other collaborators brought joy to care leavers, showcasing the power of community collaboration. This event highlighted the importance of coming together to create meaningful, lasting impacts on people's lives.

Editor's Note:

This wonderful event was made possible by a strong partnership between Imperial’s Community Engagement Team, Imperial Business School, W12 Together, and other local groups. It shows the power of community and how coming together can help those in need. The Christmas Day celebration for care leavers was a heartwarming example of how working together can create lasting change.

Skoobuzz hopes this story inspires others to get involved and make a difference.