West Berkshire Toy Appeal launches at the Newbury Community Resource Centre
An annual Christmas toy appeal is urging people to consider buying a gift for an underprivileged child this year instead of holding an office Secret Santa.
The West Berkshire Toy Appeal, which is run in memory of Louise Purton, was officially launched this week at the Newbury Community Resource Centre.
Organised by The Swift Group and the resource centre, the appeal – now in its 16th year – distributes hundreds of new, unwrapped toys to underprivileged children and young people up to the age of 19.
The team behind the appeal work closely with social workers, who distribute vouchers that the children and young people they look after can exchange for gifts at Santa’s Grotto, which has been set up at the Community Furniture Project’s Bone Lane premises.
Kelvin Hughes, CEO of The Newbury Community Resource Centre, said: “The Newbury Community Resource Centre has supported people this year who wouldn’t have beaten a path to our door previously.
“That’s why the Toy Appeal team are expecting a higher demand for help than ever. We also know that fewer people will be in a position to donate. However, we continue to be amazed by the generosity of our community.
“This year, we’re asking local businesses to support us by replacing Secret Santa with donations to our Amazon Wish List. Rather than buying a novelty toy that’s destined for your desk drawer, you can give a gift to a child who will really appreciate it.
“If local businesses support us in this way, we hope that, as in previous years, we’ll be able to provide a Christmas gift to all the young people who qualify for a voucher.”
Adrian Smith, CEO of Swift Group of Companies, added: “Swift are proud once again to be working with Kelvin and his team to support The West Berkshire Toy Appeal, which is in loving memory of Louise Purton and a tribute to the incredible people in our community.
“It’s a sad truth that the prosperity of our county actually makes the shadow darker for the many people who are struggling.
“We are massively grateful to the people of West Berkshire for their generous support, as well as all the businesses who help get donations into the hands of children who really deserve them. Please donate if you can: your donations make a real difference to the lives of hundreds of West Berkshire
children.”
Mr Hughes and Mr Smith were joined by Nigel Foot, deputy mayor of Newbury; Jeff Brooks, mayor of Thatcham, Sarah Slack, deputy leader of Newbury Town Council; Jaz Ghalley from Greenham Trust; Jane Bosher and Mollie Maclean from The Newbury Building Society; and Sheyni Hodges, Co-op member pioneer for Thatcham for Tuesday’s launch event.
Catherine Bull, headteacher at Parsons Down Partnership of Schools, also came along with a number of children who are part of the junior school council to meet a special guest – Father Christmas himself.
Also present were Jake Huntley and Lesley Purton, representing the family of Louise Purton, a director at Swift who was a major driving force behind the Toy Appeal before she died in 2019.
For more details visit www.toyappeal.co.uk
Anyone who would like to support the appeal can click on the QR code or take new, unwrapped toys and gifts suitable for boys and/or girls up the age of 19 to one of the following drop-off points:
Swift Logistics, Hambridge Lane; The Newbury Community Resource Centre, Bone Lane; Inks Personalized, Kingsland Centre; Sainsbury’s, Hectors Way; Co-op, Station Road, or Harts Hill Road, or Newbury Road, or Essex Street; and Greenham Trust, Newbury Greenham Park.
From December 1 you can also drop gifts at Newbury Building Society in Newbury, Thatcham or Hungerford.
