Christmas is a time to think of others – especially after the year we’ve just had

I did something small to try to facilitate the kindness of strangers – it showed me that British people really will step up when there are youngsters in need, writes Katy Brand

It took 15 minutes to create a Hungry Children Christmas Fund online (AP)

As we get closer to Christmas I often find myself – as is natural this time of year – thinking that I am not an especially good person. No, really – don’t all protest at once. I lead a pretty selfish life. I can be impatient and sarcastic at the best of times.

I don’t really get involved in campaigning beyond bouts of ranting and sniping on social media. I sign petitions, and then forget about them. I joined a march to remain in the EU once, but that was mostly because it happened to coincide with my route from the Tube to my meeting. I sort of jog alongside activism, rather than running directly into the path of the horse, so to speak.

And then something happened that really got my blood up. Something I couldn’t just tweet about and then wander off to make a sandwich. On the evening of the 21 October this year the government voted not to extend its scheme to subsidise meals for children living in food poverty into the Christmas holidays.