Each year, supporters of the Facebook groups Abingdon Area Helping Oxfordshire Homeless and Didcot Area Helping Oxfordshire Homeless work in partnership with Oxfordshire Homeless Movement to create Christmas gift bags for local homeless and vulnerable people. Donated gifts are placed in upcycled fabric drawstring bags, which recipients can then keep and reuse throughout the year. We don’t use wrapping paper.

This year we expect to need more than 100 bags, the creation of which is led by Kay, aka The Upcycled Bag Lady, who is also a One Planet Abingdon volunteer. It’s a lot of work, and one Planet Abingdon will be helping by hosting a number of bag making sessions at the CEC in October and November (more dates to follow)

Those who wish to help can do so by:

• donating any fabric, thread or trimmings that can be used to make or decorate bags (red, green or gold curtain fabric works particularly well). A donation bin will be in the CEC for you to leave contributions.

• coming along to help with sewing up bags (an extra sewing machine is always handy if you have one to bring)

• there are also jobs cutting out fabric or threading drawstrings if you can’t sew, or just come and keep us company.