As the nights draw in I am already looking forward to spending Christmas with my family.

Yet with all the excitement of the festive season, it’s important to remember that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for vulnerable families in West Sussex and across the UK.

I am writing to you to encourage readers to visit the HomeSense store at The Quadrant in Brighton, where they can write a festive message or their happiest childhood Christmas memory on a bauble before hanging it on the HomeSense Christmas tree in return for a donation to charity.

All proceeds from the bauble donations go to Action for Children’s Streetmate – a Haywards Heath project that supports vulnerable young people experiencing difficulties.

Last year, HomeSense raised over £75,000 for Action for Children, a wonderful charity that supports the most vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK.

With your readers’ support we can make this year’s Hang a Bauble campaign bigger and better, helping even more children, young people and families at this special time of year.

Jessica Hynes, actress and writer