‘During a Christmas like no other, it’s important to know that help is at hand’

This has truly been a year like no other.

And with Wales now in lockdown, the Christmas period in 2020 will be noticeably different to any that we’ve experienced in our lifetime

To begin with the, current restrictions mean that our traditional festivities will be limited to today (December 25) only.

While some people will be able to “bubble” with another household for Christmas Day, that will not be the case for everyone.

Add to that the fact that some of the north Wales diaspora living in other parts of the UK will not be returning home, having been forced to alter their Christmas plans at the last minute due to the changing restrictions.  

And with all pubs and restaurants in Wales now closed on Christmas Day, for some it would seem that there are very few reasons to be cheerful.

These are trying times indeed but we’re still here. We’re safe and hopefully most of us are feeling well.

However, I just wanted to let you know that if you are having to spend Christmas alone then there is help at hand.

Support (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Here at North Wales Live we’ll have a small team working throughout Christmas Day – myself included.

If you feel like you would enjoy a chat, please do not hesitate to send an e-mail to dion.jones@reachplc.com. Either myself or another member of the team will get back to you as soon as we can.

On Facebook, we’ll be leaving an “open post” on our North Wales Live page at 10am on Christmas Day. This is for anyone who might be feeling a bit lonely and would like a bit of conversation on the day. I’ll be jumping on the thread as will other members of the team throughout the day. We’ll introduce ourselves when we start work and if you don’t feel comfortable posting on the thread then please feel free to send us a private message. 

There are also a number of amazing professional services for you to turn to over the Christmas period.

Age UK say 850,000 older people could be spending Christmas alone this year. The charity offers a helpline for older people, The Silver Line. It’s free to call and they provide confidential help or someone to speak to, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 08004708090 or The Silver Line website.

There’s also the Samaritans. Many believe it’s for when someone is at breaking point. It’s not, you can talk at any point, about anything. Call 116123 or there’s details on the  Samaritans website.

If you’re struggling with cancer, or you have a relative or friend who has cancer and you need someone to talk to, then please get in touch with Macmillan. See the  Macmillan website  for how you can access support.

Thank you

I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank all the key workers who will be giving up their Christmas day to work in our essential services.

From the people working in our shops and supermarkets to NHS workers and carers to name but a few, this has been an extremely trying year for them as well as all of us.

I have witnessed the amazing work of of our key workers at several points throughout my life. Our NHS staff were there for me personally when I was hospitalised several times as a child due to my asthma, they were there for my Auntie Cheryl when she spent the last days of her life at the Alaw Ward in Ysbyty Gwynedd after she was diagnosed with cancer and they were for my nain Mattie when she spent time at a care home towards the end of her life. My story is not a unique one – they have and will continue to be there for us all. For that, I can’t thank them and all other key workers enough for their tireless efforts.     

It’s also been extremely encouraging hearing about the amazing lengths people have gone to help others over the festive people. For example a group of volunteers under the name Porthi Pawb have been delivering free Christmas meals to the people of Caernarfon and the surrounding areas since December 17. In total, these volunteers have given 15,000 meals to children and adults in the area since April. And this isn’t a long example – many examples of kind acts like this have emerged throughout the pandemic and the Christmas period.

Lastly, I’d just like to say a big diolch yn fawr to each and every one of our readers, fans and followers for supporting our work throughout the course of the year.

As you can imagine, this has been the most challenging year I’ve ever experienced as a journalist and a difficult one to step into as brand editor of the North Wales Daily Post and North Wales Live but a huge privilege nonetheless.

I know our journalists have worked extremely hard to try and keep you up to date with latest news and announcements over the course of the pandemic and this is something we’ll continue to do for as long as we have to live with the virus.

However, it would all be for nothing without your support and for that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Enjoy this Christmas, as best you can and I think we all hope 2021 will be a better year than this.

Nadolig Llawen i chi gyd and love to each of you and your families.