For many people across Leeds this Christmas, there will be no sparkling lights, no presents under the Christmas tree and it will be a struggle just to make ends meet.
This is the hard reality as the cost of living crisis continues to bite across the city, making what should be a magical time, more lonely and heart-breaking - especially for those living on their own and for parents struggling to provide for their children.
LeedsLive has spoken to some residents living in the most deprived areas of our city who are struggling to get by this Christmas. Each resident we spoke to said they did not want to submit a photo. Some stated they were too worried to share their Christmas experience.
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The first is 47-year-old John. He lives in the Lincoln Green area of Burmnatofts,Burmantofts is just outside the city which the ONS found to be the most deprived area of the city. He said that Christmas is still the same despite not being able to afford a big tree or lots of gifts. He said the spirit is what counts.
“Christmas is Christmas either way for my family, we don’t earn a lot of money, we can’t do a proper Christmas like other people but it’s still the same time of year. We get by, it’s difficult and with the recent prices going up we have to make do.
“I wish we could give the kids a more special day sometimes, but we do Christmas the way we can and because we don’t know any different, it doesn’t really matter. One thing I don’t like is the assumption that Christmas is a time to spend loads of money, it isn’t. Some people can’t spend anything and it can be rude to make people believe they have to.”
John, like many other families, has to do what he can during the holidays. He has used the local food bank to help prepare for Christmas dinner, something he doesn’t want to do but says he is not ashamed of.
He said: “Food banks are there to help us. It’s the Government that need blaming that we have to use them but I will if it means the family can have a better time.”
Food banks have been urging people to donate more items in recent months, ahead of what is expected to be a very busy time. Their websites list the items they are in desperate need of, including canned goods and toiletries.
Another resident, who reached out via social media, lives in Holbeck. She wished to remain anonymous but spoke of how difficult this time of year can be.
The 33-year-old mum-of-two said: “I lost my mum and dad years ago. Christmas is always hard and I don’t earn a lot to provide the kids with lots of toys and things. It’s hard, I wish we got a bit more support during this time. The costs are too high to make it really special.
“I used to have the usual Christmas dinner, followed by a buffet on Boxing Day but those are things of the past now. We make do now, I just wish I could give my children a proper Christmas.”
Finally, we spoke to a man who shares Christmas with his family every year. He says this year he is relying on a food bank just to put a Christmas dinner on the table.
James, 52, also from Holbeck, said: "I'm thankful we even have food banks, it's terrible we have to use them just to have a Christmas dinner but without them we would be stuck. It's nothing fancy, we just get the bare essentials and add what we can."
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