YMCA Cheltenham launches first ‘Under the Tree’ campaign to support children in emergency accommodation this Christmas

19 November 2025, Gloucestershire: YMCA Cheltenham has launched its first ever ‘Under the Tree’ campaign, so every local child and family staying in its temporary and emergency accommodation wakes up to a present this Christmas.

Local residents and businesses are invited to take part in the new campaign by donating or buying a gift online, or by visiting any of their five Christmas tree locations.

Working in partnership with The Cheltenham Trust, the five locations span Cheltenham and Gloucester, including some of the Trust’s most iconic and historic venues – The Cheltenham Town Hall, Pittville Pump Room, The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum, and Leisure At Cheltenham – as well as the YMCA Cheltenham Sports Centre. The trees are all decorated with specially designed tags, each of which recommends a gift.

The ‘Under the Tree’ campaign comes as the number of children and families in the charity’s accommodation over Christmas is expected to double this year, currently at a record 91 children who might otherwise go without a gift. Alongside gifts for every child and adult, YMCA Cheltenham will also be providing each family with a food hamper.

Rob Charsley, YMCA Head of Communities, Health & Wellbeing said: “The aim is simple, we want every child and family we support through our temporary or emergency accommodation to wake up this Christmas with presents to unwrap and a sense of hope for the future.

“Whether through physical gifts or financial contributions to the campaign, we aim to bring a little bit of extra joy and Christmas magic to those children and families in our care who may otherwise struggle to celebrate Christmas this year. Thanks to our partnership with The Cheltenham Trust, our five trees are available to visit from now through to Christmas, so local residents, businesses, YMCA members, community users and the faith community can all come together to help support these children and families this festive season. A time when the challenges of financial hardship, isolation and uncertainty are only exacerbated.”

The launch of the campaign also marks the start of the YMCA’s 170th anniversary. Since its inception in 1855, YMCA Cheltenham has been supporting those most in need in communities in Gloucestershire. Over the past year alone, with homelessness and poverty continuing to

escalate, the charity has provided housing for a total of 843 people from the county, including 278 children and young people, and 149 families.

Individuals and families who would otherwise face homelessness can find support across various sites in Cheltenham and Gloucester. The charity recently received permission for the development of Ermin Hall, another supported living facility in Gloucester.

As one of the oldest YMCAs in the world, YMCA Cheltenham has seen the impact over the last five years of a worrying 20% rise in family homelessness in Britain. Recent government figures show a record 172,420 children staying in temporary accommodation. Of these, 268 children were in Gloucestershire; 100 more than the previous year who were homeless and living in temporary accommodation.

Pressures on the social housing sector have also been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis in the UK and the economic challenges facing families, from inflation to rising utility bills. Adds Charsley: “Despite these growing challenges, we’re determined to make a difference to the children and families in our care this Christmas.

“We’d love local people, business and community groups to all get involved in our new ‘Under the Tree’ campaign. Simply pick a tag from one of our five Christmas tree locations or from our ‘virtual’ tree, buy a gift and then drop it off at one of our designated points – the YMCA Cheltenham Sports Centre or St Michael’s House, Gloucester. We’ll even wrap it for you! Alternatively, you can make a financial donation via our Just Giving page.

To find out more on the Christmas trees you can visit, how to donate directly to the campaign, or to volunteer to help pack and distribute the donated gifts, visit Under The Tree – YMCA Cheltenham

Thank you for any support you can give.