Sparkling in Scarborough Just imagine that for 60 years you shared your successes, your deepest worries, your happiness and laughter, your tears and frustration with just one very special person. This was the life story of Thora, an elderly neighbour from Scarborough. At least it was until she received the devastating news that her husband…
Today, on the eighth day of ubu Christmas competitions, we have been looking for the best decorated Christmas tree to get us all in the joyful, merry mood. Evergreen fir trees have been a feature of Christmas celebrations in Britain for the least the last two hundred years. It is a custom that has probably…
Christmas Sparkle in North Tyneside In North Tyneside ubu team members and some of the people we serve heard about a family from their area who have been having a very tough time. Over the last few years the Johnson family have had a series of particularly challenging things to face. As the people we…
Today we are celebrating Christmas with a competition for best homemade card. The idea of making or printing Christmas cards started in Britain a long time ago, actually in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole who interestingly also help set up the Post Office. It didn’t take long for both of his ideas to become popular….
This year people served by ubu decided that they wanted to join in the festive fun by having 15 days of crafting competitions leading up to Christmas. Each day has its own special theme. So far we have had some amazing entries for our competitions and today has been no exception. This is the sixth…
Sparkle at Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home To celebrate Christmas this year, we are continuing with what’s become a tradition here at ubu: our 15 festive days of seasonal celebrations. Today we are bringing some Christmas sparkle to our four legged friends in one of our local communities. At ubu, we have always appreciated the…
Making mince pies and Christmas cookies is a tradition in many families. The people we serve have been especially busy this year baking and decorating these treats to share with their friends. We had some fantastic entries for our competition and lots of recipes sent in from every area where ubu supports people to live…
Shoe Sparkle in Lancashire “Imagine walking home in bare feet, for hours in the cold, knowing that when you finally make it, there are no other shoes waiting for you.” In Syria today nearly thirteen and a half million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Just over six and a half million people have…
Today we are celebrating Christmas cheer with a competition for the happiest hat. The tradition of wearing festive hats at Christmas goes back a long way in history. In Roman times the people wore hats to celebrate on Saturnalia which fell on December 25th. More recently there has been a tradition of wearing paper hats…
A Magical Adventure on the Polar Express Marcus and Finlay are two typical 6 year old boys, lively and fun loving from Middlesbrough. They are a remarkable pair of brothers because at such a tender age they have a challenge which faces them both in different ways. Marcus has an inoperable brain tumour. He is…
It’s our third day already of our Christmas competitions. Today’s theme is more contemplative with poems and prayers for this caring and sharing time of the year. We have received some beautiful entries which we know will inspire everyone. Barbara lives with a lovely flat in Harrogate, enabled by ubu to live with more independence…
Sparkling in Spalding To celebrate this Christmas, people served and enabled by ubu in Spalding made plans to spread some seasonal cheer and sparkle to some of their older, more vulnerable neighbours in the local community. Towards the end of November Jane and Roger decided to get busy sourcing and packing a Christmas hamper each…