West Berkshire Toy Appeal launches at the Newbury Community Resource Centre

An annual Christmas toy appeal has launched for its 17th year.

The West Berkshire Toy Appeal urges people to buy a gift for an underprivileged child this year, instead of holding an office Secret Santa.

The toy appeal is run in memory of Louise Purton and was launched this morning (Monday) at the Newbury Community Resource Centre.

Organised by The Swift Group and the resource centre, the appeal distributes hundreds of new, unwrapped toys to underprivileged children and young people up to the age of 19.

This year, people can buy a gift from the toy appeal’s Amazon wish list at https://amzn.eu/aO3K31J

Newbury Community Resource Centre chief executive Kelvin Hughes said: “There is still a cost of living [crisis].

“The giving of gifts at Christmas becomes a huge stress, we see it day in, day out here.

“The situation is worse for many this year than last time but the generosity from the district and beyond has not changed.

“I want to say a big thank you to those who have donated to us and to those who are going to donate to us.

“And it would not happen without Swift.

“We have local companies who support us like our neighbours I.T.S and charities like Loose Ends, West Berks Food Bank and [Newbury] Soup Kitchen.”

Mr Hughes was joined by mayor of Newbury Nigel Foot and deputy mayor of Thatcham Suzanne Adamantos, as well as members from Newbury Soup Kitchen, Co-op and Sainsbury’s.

Children from Parsons Down Partnership of Schools in Thatcham were in attendance, donating gifts and meeting Father Christmas.

The school has been involved with the project since it began.

Headteacher Catherine Bull said: “We are very community focussed.

“It is an opportunity for our children to be involved in community events.

“We bring our school councillors.

“It is really important for developing them to be citizens in the community they grew up in.”

Donations can be made from December 1 to December 23.

For more details visit www.toyappeal.co.uk

Donation points are: Swift Logistics in Hambridge Lane, The Community Furniture Project in Bone Lane, Inks Personalized at 18 The Broadway, Sainsbury’s in Hector Way, Cop-op in Station Road, Harts Hill Road, Newbury Road and Essex Street, Greenham Trust in Newbury Greenham Park and Newbury Building Society in Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford.