Light Up Your Vehicle
Shine your light for Digg Deep For Kids 2021.
This year, we wanted to do something extra special to raise awareness about this amazing campaign.
As many of you know, Digg Deep For Kids began with Caroline O’Neill, who began advocating for children at Christmas from her shop Digg Childrenswear. Caroline's shop was named Digg, because her magnificent father helped her start out to achieve her dreams, and he drove a digger.
The agricultural community has always been such a special and important part of Caroline and her family's life and because of this, they have decided that there would be no brighter way to launch the 2021 Digg Deep for Kids campaign than to light up as many vehicles, diggers and machinery as possible!
But, we need your help. There’s no way that one farm’s light will be enough to give this campaign the introduction it needs!
We’re inviting you, your families and everyone you know to light up your vehicle from the 28th of November to 14th December, to advocate, support and raise awareness for the children and families that need our help.
So gather up your diggers, tractors, lorries and cars! Find lights, bulbs and things that glow, and light up your vehicle for kids in your area.
No matter how big or small, we can all make a difference this year.
Don’t forget to upload photos and videos of the process and the shining finished product, and make sure you tag @Diggmama and @DiggDeepForKids on social media.
Together, let’s shine light in the darkness for those that need it most.
Charities We Are Supporting
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Cash For Kids - Mission Christmas
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Simon Community - Northern Ireland
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Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP)
Cash For Kids
SCash For Kids and their Mission Christmas campaign was where this magical journey began in 2017, and it is here to stay for the sixth year in a row. This campaign gives us the opportunity to ensure every child wakes up to a present under their tree on Christmas day. With your help, we are able to buy a huge amount of high quality, brand new gifts and toys that will give children in Northern Ireland a Christmas they will never forget.
Cash For Kids also works all year round to improve the lives of vulnerable, disadvantaged children and young people who are effected by poverty, neglect, and illness, as well as those with additional needs.
We couldn’t be more proud to partner with this life-changing organisation and we’re determined to make this year's contribution bigger than ever.
If you or anyone you know needs support from Cash For Kids, please visit the link below to find out more.
We asking for donations of cash so we can buy what the charity needs but also if you would like to physically donate a gift then Cash For Kids have asked us to focus on.
Please note – Cash For Kids are most in need of gifts for children aged 7– 18 years. Gifts suitable for children of multiple ages are great and ideally some gender-neutral items. All gifts should retail between£10 and £50. Gifts must be new and unwrapped. They don’t accept food (e.g. selection boxes) due to allergy risk.
7 - 18 Years Old Gift Idea
Barbie merch
Basketball net
Colouring pens and colouring books
Craft sets
Dart boards
Football cards
Footballs/Basketballs
Games: Kanoodle, Printing 3D Pen, Pictionary, Monopoly, Cluedo
Grooming items – hair dryers, straighteners, curlers, shavers
Headphones
Heelys
Hot water bottles
Jigsaws
Karaoke microphone
Lego
lilo n sticth
LOL dolls
Make up sets
Pamper kits
Pencil Case
Pokemon
Puzzles
Roller skates
Rucksacks
Scooters
Screen Magnifier for Smartphone
Skateboards
Slime
Smart watch
Snoodies / blanket hoodies
Speakers
Squishmallows
Stanley cup
Swing ball set
Toy cars
Toy Story (Woody, Mr Potato Head etc)
Un-sized clothing – like beanies or sports socks
Water bottle
Weighted blankets
Yoyos
Simon Community NI x Digg Deep for Kids: our partnership so far
Approx. £40K of donations were gifted to our frontline
temporary accommodation services. This included white
goods, TVs, tablets, towels, bedding, mattress protectors,
beanbags, chairs.
6 defibrillators providing a life saving resource for our temporary
accommodation projects – a further contribution of £5,700.
£10,000 towards the purchase of a Creating Homes Property –
thereby achieving Diamond Sponsor status.
£12,630 for our Linen Court (Armagh) service to improve wi-fi for
clients living on site. This enables them to stay connected with
friends and family, and access learning and personal
development opportunities.
£16,500 towards emergency hardship grants to cover energy and
food costs – ensuring clients were able to stay warm and afford
the essentials.
Digg Deep at Conway Court
In a separate project, Digg Deep enlisted the support of local
companies and businesses to undertake a revamp of the
outdoor space at our dedicated family accommodation service,
Conway Court.
A team of passionate and energetic volunteers installed a paved
area for seating and new football nets, built a lean-to shed for toy
storage, and relandscaped flower beds.
This regeneration of the garden area has created a lasting legacy
through offering a dedicated space for children and parents to
bond outdoors, promote the physical and emotional wellbeing of
children living in Conway Court, and fostering connection and
positive relationships between the families on site.
Anyone who has become homeless or is worried about their risk of becoming homeless can contact the Homeless Support Line on 0800 171 2222. This operates 24 / 7, 365 days a year and is a freephone number (including from mobiles). You can also refer on a friend / relatives behalf.
Alternatively, Simon Community have a secure online form which can be completed to access help https://simoncommunity.org/services/get-help.
SVP Northern Ireland
SVP is an international charity and the largest voluntary charity in Ireland. SVP is committed to promoting self-sufficiency and working diligently for social justice.
During 2022, St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has provided assistance of over £5 million to families navigating the cost of living crisis, marking a 43% increase from the previous year's £3.5 million contribution to people living in poverty across Northern Ireland.
The past number of years have been incredibly difficult for people struggling to make ends meet as individuals and families try to navigate a pandemic, cost of living crisis and significant social security cuts and changes. The assistance provided by dedicated SVP volunteers over the last two years is staggering as the calls to the regional office in Belfast more than doubled. Our Members tirelessly work across all communities to support individuals, regardless of their background, who are battling poverty and social exclusion. We are worried about what the winter and the year ahead will bring. It’s getting more and more expensive for people to live every day and households we are supporting are already beyond breaking point.
Key statistics:-
14,000 requests for assistance per annum
2,585 requests for support with energy/fuel
1,500 requests for support with food
1,870 requests for help with Christmas