​David Tennant explains in this short video why people should donate to Edinburgh charity Circle this Christmas

Former Dr Who star David Tennant has recorded a video in what looks like his back garden in support of an Edinburgh charity working with some of the country’s most vulnerable families.

The movie star is urging people to donate to Circle, which works to support families where parents are struggling with issues such as drug or alcohol abuse, or are spending time in prison.

As Tennant says: “Instead of celebrating Christmas this year, some children will sadly be struggling with the chaos and trauma of parental substance abuse, parental imprisonment and poverty. Circle is working hard to ensure these children are supported and listened to and given the skills cope with the challenges they're facing.”

Tennant has been a loyal patron of Circle since 2006 and often records short videos in support of the charity – sometimes even roping in some of his co-stars to help. In 2016, for example, he judged its Father’s Day card competition with fellow Broadchurch stars Olivia Coleman and Georgina Campbell.

The charity’s spokeswomen Claire Martin said: “David Tennant is a brilliant patron and always great to have on board. He helps us out several times each year, providing a foreword for the book we create with local children and families each summer, judging our Father’s Day card competition and making videos to raise awareness of our fundraising appeals.”

The charity is making a big push for donations to this year’s Christmas appeal as every cash gift will be matched by the Dulverton Trust (up to £5,000).

The appeal will support a range of projects such as the charity’s mentoring scheme, which links primary school children in Muirhouse and Pilton with a volunteer mentor in their sixth year at independent secondary school George Heriot’s.

The project gives the children a special person in their lives who they can trust and build a relationship with. It gives the children space to grow in confidence in a secure and supportive environment.

Funds from the appeal will also help run the Women’s Outreach service, which provides an intensive outreach support to women and their families in an attempt to keep them out of prison. It works to address offending, problem substance use, mental health, domestic abuse, trauma and poor parenting skills.