Welcome to our June ‘monthly message’!
We wanted to take a little time in this month’s message to explain exactly what we deliver to a family when we receive an application.
The Main Birthday Present!
It is our fundamental aim at An Open Hand to ensure that each child receives exactly what they would hope to on their birthday, and it is their parent that selects this for them. We never give out a random age appropriate toy. We have a detailed phone call to be certain we get this right, and over the past five years, feedback has shown that so far all the gifts provided have been exactly what was wished for.
The main gift is accompanied by wrapping paper, a birthday card and sellotape so that parents can check the gift they are giving, and prepare it for their child’s birthday as they would like to.
The Main Birthday Present
Birthday cards and wrapping paper
The Family Bag!
We also provide each family with a package we call the ‘family bag’. This contains various items and is intended to be shared by the whole family.
The ‘Family Bag’ contains:
•A book for each child in the family
•A family game to play together
•Bubbles for each younger child
•Drawing paper
•A pencil case containing colouring pencils or crayons, writing pencils, a sharpener and rubber
•A mug containing tea, coffee and hot chocolate sachets for the parent
•An optional ‘TryPraying’ book
What about the Teenagers?!
Recently, we have felt that the family bag contents could be improved for the teenagers we receive applications for, and we mentioned in our April message we had sought the advice of the Greenbank Scouts and Explorers.
As a result, instead of a book and or game, we offer the option to teenagers to instead choose a selection of:
•cosy socks
•sports socks
•water bottles
•deodorant sprays
•fidget toys
•small squashy balls
Thank you Greenbank Parish Church!!!
Greenbank Church recently held a Lent / Easter appeal and nominated An Open Hand, and another local charity, An Open Door, to receive the funds raised.
We were so thankful to be chosen and also for the huge sum they raised for us. This will go such a long way towards buying birthday gifts for children in Edinburgh. We are, as always, so thankful to Greenbank Church for their steady and deep support of our charity.
“They made a really meaningful difference to my child’s birthday this year. By taking the time to ask about his interests in advance, they made him feel seen and understood, not just another child receiving a generic gift. When the present arrived, he was genuinely excited—especially about the electricity experiment kit, which he started using straight away.
It turned the day into something more personal and special, and as a parent it was incredibly touching to see that level of care and attention. It really helped make his birthday feel celebrated in a thoughtful and memorable way.”
An Open Hand is run entirely by volunteers
Our charity is run solely by volunteers so we do ask for at least two weeks notice of any birthdays. This allows enough time to call the parent to find out what they would like to give their child, let them have time to think and decide, buy the gift, pack up the individual family bags and deliver everything before the child’s birthday.
Because our charity is run in our free time we might also run at a slightly lower capacity over school holiday time or deliver gifts earlier than the week before the birthday if the birthday falls in the holidays.
Many thanks for your assistance and understanding!!
If you are working with a family in financial hardship who may require support with buying birthday presents, head to www.anopenhand.org.uk to find out more about applying.
