The Aspire NI 2025 Christmas advert, “Give the Gift of Being Seen This Christmas,” tells a quiet but powerful story about children growing up in poverty, and what happens when someone truly notices them.
The film follows a single mother and her young son through the festive season. Small details speak volumes: worn clothing, missing school supplies, an empty lunchbox. These moments reflect the reality for over 103,000 children in Northern Ireland living in relative poverty, often unseen and unheard.
But the advert is also about hope. During an Aspire session, the boy is gently given what he’s been missing; not just essentials, but dignity, care, and a sense that he matters. Later, he receives a Christmas gift, which for many Aspire young people may be their only present.
For Aspire’s founder, Mark Knox, this message is deeply personal. Having seen how belief and support can transform young lives, he created Aspire NI to ensure no child feels invisible.
This Christmas, Aspire NI reminds us that being seen can change everything.
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