This is my last column of the year, written from a tiny, cramped space cleared on one of my Morpeth office desks.

The reason I can’t move my elbows much is because I am surrounded on all sides by hundreds and hundreds of Christmas presents. Each one is destined for a child or young person in North Northumberland in need of a little extra kindness this year.

The generosity of people in my constituency is like no other. My office launched the North Northumberland Christmas Appeal in November, thinking the first year might be pretty quiet. How happily wrong we were. We have been inundated.

So firstly, the most enormous Thank You to all of our community collection points.

Glendale Agricultural Society, Weavers Court, The Hair and Beauty Co, Northern View, Seaside Travel, Wellway Pharmacy Morpeth, Wellway Pharmacy Pegswood, Morpeth Co-op, Hadston Co-op, Woodhorn Park Care Home, Alnwick Brewery, Specsavers Alnwick and Morpeth TSB have all made this possible; creating beautiful displays where gifts can be left.

And to everyone who has given this year; perhaps sharing a story from my time leading a homelessness charity is the best way to convey what this can mean.

Naomi Project was our supported housing for young women. The staff all take an immense pride in making residents feel safe and cared for. Every Christmas the house is flooded with decorations, there’s a huge dinner and gifts are opened by the tree.

On one occasion, a young woman opened her gift, began to cry, and left the room.

It came to light that she had never, in her whole life, opened a present on Christmas Day. Your gift could be a child’s first, saving them from the pain of reaching adulthood without that experience.

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to you all.

*Published in the Northumberland Gazette on 18/12/2025