CIRENCESTER-BASED family support charity Home-Start Cotswolds has been included in a major Christmas campaign unveiled by Waitrose and John Lewis at the weekend.

The campaign aims to make a lasting difference to some of those hit hardest during 2020 and encourages customers to ‘Give a Little Love’ by supporting Home-Start and FareShare, the UK’s largest food redistribution charity.

Customers can make a charitable donation, or buy campaign products, with 100 per cent of the profit donated to the charities. Customer donations up to the value of £2m will be match funded by the John Lewis Partnership.

Home-Start Cotswolds is one of over 180 local, independent charities that make up the Home-Start network across the UK.

Chair of Trustees, Steve Kaufmann, said: "We were really excited to hear that Home-Start would be featured in the much-anticipated John Lewis Christmas TV ad.

"But the campaign goes much further than that and will really raise our profile, meaning we can help more families who have been under enormous strain this year.’

The Waitrose and John Lewis campaign is very timely for Home-Start Cotswolds, as their next weekly volunteer training course starts in January.

Volunteers go on to spend two to three hours a week providing emotional and practical support to local families, who may be struggling with any number of issues such as postnatal depression, isolation or physical health problems.

To ensure that they can still help families during lockdown, Home-Start Cotswolds has moved some of its essential support services online.

They also link families into other community services, such as local foodbanks.

Peter Grigg, chief executive at Home-Start UK, said: ‘The pandemic has been hard for all families, but it’s been toughest on those already facing challenges.

"I have been overwhelmed by the kindness shown in our communities during the pandemic, but I know there is so much more to do.

"That is why I am so proud that John Lewis and Waitrose are supporting Home-Start with this amazing campaign.

"With the help of Waitrose and John Lewis, and their customers, we will be able to work with more families when they need us most."

Full details on how to volunteer is available via www.home-start-cotswolds.org.uk/volunteer/.

You can view the TV ad at www.home-start-cotswolds.org.uk/news/.