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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

£20 present ideas for 14 yo boy in care

109 replies

TwigTheWonderKid · 15/11/2017 08:19

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.

OP posts:
iwishiwasatthepark · 16/11/2017 12:56

I have done similar in the past and included a stocking with just a few sweets, gloves and hat etc spending about £10 on it then a voucher for the rest or hotel chocolate have lovely pre filled stockings for £10.

SatansLittleHelper2 · 16/11/2017 13:14

Im actually surprised theyre doing this scheme for children who are in foster care......my dd is currently in residential care (( voluntarily, due to her sn )) she comes and goes as she pleases but gets the same as other kids in her placement who are under care orders.

£500 a year clothing allowance.

Pocket money based on age (( dd is 18 so gets £18 a week ))

£200 for Christmas (( used to be 250 but - cut backs ))

£50 for a.birthday present and also £30 to pay for a party of some sort.

It's the care leavers I feel for, who often leave with no family lr anyone to turn to......our local tesco does a gift tree for people who are isolated in the community, a lot of these are care leavers.......I take a stack of names every year from the tree and get things I think theyll like. Their first names are on there too so sometimes i've had personalised things made. (( nothing exciting, just a mug or chocolate bar ))

IHaveBrilloHair · 16/11/2017 13:36

Same as when my Dd was in Satan, they really don't miss out financially, they often went out on trips too, or just for a meal plus had takeaway once a week.
None of them were there on Christmas Day, they were all with their families.

GreyCloudsToday · 16/11/2017 15:15

Glad you posted, I got a 12 year old boy and was a bit flummoxed.

RatRolyPoly · 16/11/2017 15:22

I'd go pack of cards, wallet, shower gel/sprays.

GreyCloudsToday · 16/11/2017 15:28

Do you think it's a bad idea to get football team merchandise? Not sure if they'll be able to match the present with young fans.

BearSoFair · 16/11/2017 16:09

Off the back of this thread I've just registered and have also been given a 14yo boy!

Thanks for posting OP, this is a lovely campaign and I'm so pleased I've been able to join up for it Smile

IHaveBrilloHair · 16/11/2017 16:15

Satan, we'll be spending Dd's cash for kids money on a big food bank shop this year, we really don't need that money.

namechange2222 · 16/11/2017 16:19

One of those sports man bag tover the shoulder ype things, think you can get Nike ones. All the teen boys I looked after used them to carry their tobacco, phone etc

jocktamsonsbairn · 16/11/2017 19:18

For those not close to London, there are other similar schemes across the country. Our local foodbank are asking for people to pledge to do a box/gift bag for children and the local radio station runs a Cash for Kids campaign where you can donate money or gifts for local children in need. Think there will be similar in most areas.

CPtart · 16/11/2017 19:47

I have a 14 year old DS.
How about Calvin Kevin boxers, plain black and white. He loved these.

IHaveBrilloHair · 16/11/2017 20:03

satan, when Dd was there she was entitled to free school meals, as all kids in care are.
Dd moaned and was handed £2.50 cash a day, she mainly pocketed it.
I was outraged and told them so, they weren't interested, they have plenty of money to spend on the kids and do, not really caring where it's going or what's being done with it.
It made it much harder fore me when Dd came home with unreasonable requests for money.

namechange2222 · 17/11/2017 05:57

IHaveBrilloHair Children in foster care are not entitled to free school meals I can assure you. Foster carers are paid a fee to look after children and that includes feeding them

AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley · 17/11/2017 19:13

Ex care-kid here.

I would have loved:

A duvet set (something bright maybe?)

Stuff to brighten up my room

Random idea- is a safe too boring/techy? Something to keep stuff safe in? Mine was always getting stolen.

Sports shop voucher

Chocolate (do they still do those pooing reindeer?)

TheFlis12345 · 18/11/2017 12:03

The scheme isn't just for kids in care. The website says "Presents go to children in care, disadvantaged families, refuges or hospitals all over London."

yellowsun · 18/11/2017 15:27

With free school meals - it depends on the carer and their status, just as it would with any parent. Being a child in care doesn't automatically mean free school meals. The pupil premium money for those in care is paid in a different way than standard pp money.

IHaveBrilloHair · 18/11/2017 15:37

Of course everything varies by area/specifics etc but just wanted to say that not all miss out financially.
Btw, two years ago SW visited unexpectedly on Christmas Eve and gave me two huge bags of Waitrose food, we got it just because we had a SW, not because we were in any financial need, the SW had taken all the Waitrose stuff specifically for me as she knows I'm a huge foodie and they had far too much anyway that would go to waste.

If anyone wants to donate, that's fine of course, but it's not necessarily needed and I thought it only right to point that out.

IHaveBrilloHair · 18/11/2017 15:40

We are considered a disadvantaged family btw, my house will be chock full of lovely food, and Dd will have a great Christmas with all the gifts she wants, but it's quite possible that some of these donations will be given to us.

jocktamsonsbairn · 18/11/2017 23:40

Ihavebrillohair that’s making me quite pissed off now that I have didn’t money on gifts I pledged to our local foodbank! I work in a school in Avery disadvantaged area, am a single parent and am totally skint. Having been through a hideous divorce and o my saved from needing women’s aid yay family members, I have always scrimped to give to their appeal but can’t find it this year so promised 2 gifts to our foodbank appeal, I really hope they are going to people who really need them and not people who are in the same financial crap that I am! I tutor in the evenings to make ends meet and am considering a 3rd job to have a safety net. I’d be so angry if I’m spending money buying stuff for kids who really don’t need it!

jocktamsonsbairn · 18/11/2017 23:41

Excuse typos, fat tired fingers on small phone ..,

WutheringTights · 19/11/2017 10:33

There are lots of Christmas appeals in various parts of the country. Wood Street Mission in Manchester does similar. I'm sure there are others.

www.woodstreetmission.org.uk/What-we-do/Christmas-project.aspx

What I like about the Wood Street Mission is that there is some sort of points system and the parents chose the gifts for their children based on those points to make sure that the children get something that they will like. The parents then wrap the present and it is given by the parents, not the charity. They take the view that the children should have a Christmas like everyone else with presents from their families, and not just get "charity" presents.

WutheringTights · 19/11/2017 10:37

The Wood Street Mission only helps those who have been referred by a professional such as a social worker or midwife. Guidelines here for anyone wondering whether families not needing help coddle access their services.

www.woodstreetmission.org.uk/images/Woody's%20Market%20Referral%20Guidelines%202017%20final.pdf

notacooldad · 19/11/2017 10:50

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..

Whilst your figures maybe correct and they are in due to their parents behaviour they can stil be at risk for mental health issues brought on by the care and nurturing they ( didn't) receive their and lack of attachment.They are more likely to self harm or take part in risk taking behaviour. Also due to lack of boundaries due to parental neglect they can be a negative influence on other young people or more at risk of CSE, that's why some kids aren't allowed access to a mobile phone or have the wifi on.
Obviously that's just skimming the surface of behaviours and reasons in a children's home but just because they are in residential due to their parents behaviour or neglect doesn't mean they aren't free from a shed load of risk or challenges.

notacooldad · 19/11/2017 10:56

Ex care-kid here.

I would have loved:

A duvet set (something bright maybe?)

Stuff to brighten up my room

Random idea- is a safe too boring/techy? Something to keep stuff safe in? Mine was always getting stolen.

Sports shop voucher

Chocolate (do they still do those pooing reindeer?)

How long was it since you were in care? Our young people decorate the room when they move in with us and go shopping with their case worker for bedding and towels of their choice and are encouraged to personalise their room and told it's their own space.
They all have a key to their room and nobody is allowed in other people bedrooms. They have a petty cash tin of their own and they can put valuables in a safe.

Of course it maybe different in different parts of the country but I thought this was. At least minimum standards.

Deux · 19/11/2017 11:25

My DS is the same age. The trouble you have is that you don't know what the boy is in to so it's finding something that has broad appeal. E.g., My DS hates football and isn't into anything designerish at all.

Nike do a trifold rip sports wallet for about £5.00. Another thing is a Buff. DS and his friends seem to wear these in the winter rather than a scarf. Also there is a magazine called How It Works which is all about the latest developments in science, technology etc. It's not aimed at teenagers but the articles and short, accessible with loads of photos and diagrams.