£20 present ideas for 14 yo boy in care

[TwigTheWonderKid]

We're doing the Met Police Christmas present thing and we've been allotted a 14 year old boy. Rules are £20 max budget, no tech and nothing requiring batteries. I'm fairly au fait with the general needs and wants of teenage boys but realistically most of them are tech based. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I really want to get this right.

I think to be honest I am thinking more of a child in residential care rather than in foster care but I see that it hasn’t been specific about this. I know about all the reasons why children end up in care. I am a social worker!

If he's in a care home they do get taking out to things like the cinema and restaurants ect and they would usually have a carer from the home with them when they go out unless there's no fear of them being harmed,harming themselves or anyone else or running away if there's none of those worries then he would be allowed to go with friends.

I know the above from experience,so the vouchers for the cinema/eating out would be a good idea.I'd do like someone else suggested £20 on the vouchers and then £10 on making up a little hamper so he has a present to open as well.

Nice socks and chocolates?

I was going to say graphic novels or similar too. Would a draw your own kit be too niche?

Exploding Kittens is £19.99 on Amazon +chocolate/toiletries.

Metal water bottle
Compass
Wind-up torch
Gloves
Pen
Diary
Mug with hot chocolate

To me a voucher says 'I can't be bothered to get you a gift' so I would make up a chocolate hamper or hamper with fun teen books/puzzles, fun mug or travel cup, headphones, food etc. That shows you care. Within that you could add an envelope with £5 or £10 if you're spending £30.

When I say food i mean sweets and chocolate!

I would go for vouchers, selection box and a book, it's always lovely having chocs and something to read, and then still having vouchers to spend on what he would like

Vouchers, a classic cadburys selection Christmas stocking and another small item .

Wind up radio?

Retro sweets are fashionable at the moment even with kids who can’t remember them first time round, you can order them from amazon or Sainsbury’s sell some I think. I would get that and a voucher.

Why no tech! I was going to say a dot or Google home dot both 37 at the moment!! What a difficult age to buy for. I think vouchers let him choose, amazon vouchers
He can buy loads with them failing that cinema, he can take a friend with him or nandos as pp said.

Voucher doesn't say can't be bothered to get you a gift at all!! Vouchers are wonderful!! And they mean the money can't get whittled away elsewhere! Def vouchers.

Sports brand t-shirt in a JD Sports bag, sweets? Do you get told anymor? Could do juggling balls, football, art pad, all depends on what he’s into.

You know what, I wish my school would take a bit more time to think about what they want all the parents in our school to donate to at Christmas. Once again the parents of 300 children have been asked to make up a shoe box for some elderly person in an Eastern European country. I'm sure this is a good cause but there are so many people in need closer to home. I've told them I am not doing a Link Shoebox again and I was keeping my eye open to instead donate the £25 it costs me to traipse round and look for candles, soaps and socks for the box.

Thanks for posting this link. It is a great idea.

There are some solar powered build tech things that look good

Look on Amazon

designer toiletry set

I would skip designer anything personally - many people wouldn't be all that excited by designer, and it could be a bit insensitive, if this is his only gift, to splash £20+ on stuff that he'll be provided with anyway but with a fancy label.

Thanks for posting this - I have signed up now, and have to get something for a 17 year old boy, so I will be using some of these ideas!!

bluesky you should know that 90% of children on care orders are on them because of their parents (neglect, abuse, poverty). Only.5-10% are on care orders because of putting themselves or others at risk.

The teens I work with like sports direct or primark vouchers

Of course i know this haba. I was trying to think what would be a good generic present that would suit absolutely any 14yo boy who was in care no matter why or what the reasons. I would hate for a young person to get a gift and be gutted that they couldn't use it for whatever reason.

My ds (13 and a half) may be atypical but he loves cooking so would really like a bake at home cookie/cake set. Also perhaps nice stationary ( high lighters, felt tips- that sort of thing) he would definitely like sweets and chocolates, he also loves making microwave popcorn, fancy hot chocolate (snow ball soup kit ?)
He would like designer socks, gloves or a beanie (Adidas, Nike)

It seems you can only drop off the pressie (no option to send it to the met)? A pity, I would have liked to do one, but not keen on a 300 mile trip!

I don't know if there's one near you but last year I was allocated a teenage boy in the Met police appeal and I got them a Westfield voucher - they could use it in either shops or restaurants / cinema there and a little Lynx gift set from Boots

What about something a bit more hands on- a bonsai tree, make your own birdhouse kit, make your own toffee/chocolates set.