On Sunday 23rd March our Publicity Mgr, Charlie is running the Reading Half Marathon in aid of Reading Family Aid. Please do sponsor her – the more £s pledged the easier the miles will be! Click here to see her page and to donate.
And if you would like to join her in running for us there are still places to be had – checkout the Reading Half Marathon website and do let us know!

On the evening of Saturday April 12th, the fantastic Small Strings Band will be performing at The Club at Mapledurham in aid of Reading Family Aid.
Tickets are on sale now - only £10 – although there will be plenty of opportunities to contribute much more to our funds on the night with a raffle, a game of chance and much more! Remember to bring cash!

On Friday January 3rd a large group of excited families visited the Hexagon in Reading to watch - and participate in! - the Cinderella Panto.

​There was much fun and shouting singing along and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
They went to a "relaxed performance" which meant they could be as noisy as they wanted and move around if needed.
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Claire from Fifi's Vision said "The pantomime had such a positive impact that I could instantly see, from when parents arrived and looked overwhelmed and tired to when they left beaming and laughing,  upbeat and recharged."

Hazel from the Weller Centre said: "We took 13 local children (and 5 adults). 6 of whom had never been to a professional panto. Not sure they quite knew what to make of it to begin with but soon warmed to the shouting etc. It was the perfect performance to go to and think supported the needs of a lot of the children we took, who we may not have taken to a regular performance.  – I also think the parents felt better that their children wouldn’t disrupt others. "
One child said: " The best bit was when Mr Tumble sang the 12 days of Christmas wrong".
" Thank you again for the tickets. They all had a wonderful time."

Claire from Fifi's Vision said: 
"Thank you again for the amazing opportunity.
Many of our parents discussed the difficulties and challenges that Christmas can bring as routines at school and even home change, the lights, decorations and activities can be overwhelming especially when environments are busier as well. This can be very difficult to process as a parent carer when many others share through social media amazing stories and pictures of a "perfect" Christmas and for many the harsh reality is, feeling financial pressures as well as being isolated and alone and having a child in distress and unable to access days out and activities.
With all this over stimulation children often become overwhelmed and struggle which can lead to meltdowns/shutdowns that leave both parent carer and child anxious and  exhausted.
The tickets to the pantomime meant the whole family could take a moment together and forget about all the hustle and bustle and just let their hair down.
They all welcomed the opportunity for family respite altogether, laughing and dancing and everyone had said how grateful they were.

Families from Homestart Wokingham said:

• Thanks for the panto, the kiddies loved it! They were all singing and dancing 
• Please pass on our thanks for this amazing experience xx 
• It was brilliant!  Thank you! Xx 
• Is there anyway that we can pass on thanks to Vivienne Simpson?

On Saturday December 7th in St Luke's Church in Erleigh Road, Reading, the Chorate Chamber Choir held a concert in aid of Reading Family Aid and St Luke's. The theme of the evening was "Replayed and reworked melodies .... and seasonal songs by composers old and new."

The music was outstanding with their beautiful voices filling the Church. 

​If you would like to listen to a recording of the concert you can do so here.

Ruth Perkins, Reading Family Aid's Fundraising Manager, spoke about the charity - and definitely did not sing!

​Thanks to everyone that donated and an amazing £800 was raised, of which Reading Family Aid received half.
And thanks to Chorate for choosing us!

The Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal has once again been a huge success with tens of thousands of toys and gifts donated to the appeal by the people of Reading and the surrounding area. This has allowed us to donate a very good selection of presents to 2,509 children living in this area who would otherwise be unlikely to receive anything on Christmas morning.  Huge thanks to everyone who got involved through donations, volunteering, being a donation point, organising a collection or in any other way.

Donations

We did go shopping too and purchased vouchers for the teenagers and gifts for teenagers and the under 3's. Smyths Toys kindly gave us a generous discount on items purchased from them.

The Recipients

As Laura, our Toy Project Manager said: "While our motto is 'Putting smiles on children's faces', our charity is Reading Family Aid and we do help the whole family. It takes a huge weight from the parents' shoulders and allows them the joy of being able to give their children some gifts on Christmas morning.". 
​Last year one little person told her parish nurse, "I woke on Christmas day and Father Christmas came. I got presents in a sack which I knew came from Father Christmas, as my mummy had told me she couldn’t get us any this year.”

Collecting, Sorting, Packing and Delivering

On Saturday December 7th, our volunteer Van Men and Women collected three vans generously donated by Caversham Vehicle Hire and started the process of collecting tables donated from various church halls and organisations including 89th Scouts Group, St Anne's Church in Caversham, St Barnabas Church in Emmer Green, Caversham Hall and St Luke's Church in Reading. During the week they, with the help of various committee members and our Supporter Jan, went to all the 27 Donation Points around town, 34 businesses and churches and 20 schools.  They also delivered the 1178 packed sacks and between the collections and deliveries drove for about 500 miles around Reading

Every item is checked to make sure it is clean, complete, working, legal and if it needs batteries, all under the supervision of Sallie who has been in this role for more years than she can remember!
​If it passes all the tests and, if needed, has batteries included or attached, it is placed on the tables that correspond to the item's age suitability. Tens of thousands of items and every single one checked for suitability.

Taking a Break
It is hard physical and mental work with much lifting, carrying and decision making! Everyone is sustained with drinks, cakes and biscuits and sandwiches for lunch - and a good natter!

The Numbers

Last year about 90% of the donations were for the 0-9 years age range and yet almost 50% of the children were in the 10-16 age range. This meant we had to do a lot of last minute shopping!
This year we had a real push on our publicity and stressed the importance of items for the older children and, together with gifts and vouchers that we had purchased with the monetary donations, we just about had sufficient.

It is interesting how the age profile of the children is changing.
In 2017 74% of the children were under 10 and 26% were 10 and over.  
While the number of children has more than doubled since 2017, this year, 53% were under 10 and 47% were 10 and over.
​In 2017 22% were in the 0-2 age range and this year only 8%. Are people not having so many children?

And finally a Massive Thankyou!

Huge thanks to everyone that made it possible to put smiles on 2,509 children's faces this Christmas:

• all those that donated gifts and money
• all the businesses, libraries, community centres and schools that offered to be public donation points
• all the businesses, places of worship, schools and other organisations that organised in-house collections
• all those that volunteered to help in the hall and in the vans and especially Jan who does interim collections and stored a whole van full of gifts in her house! 
• all the companies that gave some of their staff a day off to help.
• all the organisations that loaned us tables
• and lastly but by no means least, all of our main sponsors whose ongoing support make all this possible:

Thanks to all of you and we'll do it all again next year!

Key Dates for 2025:
Appeal Launch Date: Thursday 23rd October .
​Last day for donations: Saturday December 6th.
Next year's Sorting and Packing Week: Sunday December 7th to Friday December 12th

The Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal 2024 has officially wrapped up for this year, and what an incredible success it has been! Sponsored by The Chronicle, the annual appeal calls on sponsors and supporters to donate new or nearly new toys for underprivileged children in Reading and the surrounding areas, ensuring they experience the joy of Christmas.
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This year, over 2,400 children will benefit from these generous donations, guaranteeing that every one of them receives a special gift this holiday season. The charity is currently hard at work packing the donated toys into age-appropriate sacks in preparation for distribution. Starting next week, the charity’s gift vans will make their rounds across the area, visiting neighbourhoods from Whitley to Caversham, and Woodley to Winnersh, spreading cheer and smiles to children and their families.

​One local school, which supports children who benefit from these gifts, expressed their gratitude: "We had toys from you last year and you were so generous and kind, and the parents were thrilled to bits. It really made a difference."

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​Laura Windisch, Head of the Toys and Teens Appeal, shared her excitement: "We at Reading Family Aid are really looking forward to the completion of this year's Appeal and putting smiles on the faces of disadvantaged children. The people of Reading (and beyond) have been so generous, and we are already hearing how the donated toys and presents are going to make such a huge difference to so many families. To everyone who has donated a gift - THANK YOU. We couldn't do this without you. You are making a real contribution to the sum total of happiness in our town!"

​​Reading Family Aid would like to extend special thanks to their incredible sponsors — Big Yellow, Caversham Vehicle Hire, The Freemasons, P&G, and Trust ID — whose ongoing support makes this appeal possible. Every single donation has a profound impact, ensuring that children across the community can experience the magic of Christmas. To everyone who contributed, thank you for your generosity and support.

Here’s to a festive season filled with joy, kindness, and giving! 🎄

The Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal 2024 is now in its penultimate week, and we’re calling on the generosity of Reading residents to help make this Christmas special for local children and teens in need. Sponsored by The Chronicle, this heartwarming appeal seeks donations of new or nearly new gifts for children and teenagers who may otherwise not receive a single present this holiday season.

​Jill Anders, Parish Nurse for Reading Gateway Church, works in South Reading with families in need. After the appeal last year she said, “It was a joy to provide presents for the children who otherwise wouldn’t receive anything at Christmas … One little person said to me.. “I woke on Christmas day and Father Christmas came. I got presents in a sack which I knew came from Father Christmas, as my mummy had told me she couldn’t get us any this year”… The tears of gratitude from parents who had no idea how they would manage…. The squeals of delight sent to me over voice message, as the children were opening their presents… The Toys and Teens Appeal will provide presents for 21 children and teens this year whom I support. These children and young people would not receive anything if it wasn’t for the generosity of those that give so freely to this amazing charity, which brings just so much joy to those who so desperately need it”.

Last year, over 2,500 children received gifts as a result of this appeal, and this year, the same number have been registered as being in need of a present. To meet this demand, the appeal is asking for help from individuals, schools, businesses, and organisations across Reading. If you would like to arrange a collection, Reading Family Aid would be incredibly grateful for any donations. All gifts must be received by 7th December, after which they will be packed into sacks and distributed to children throughout Reading and the surrounding areas.

​One longstanding supporter of the appeal is St Andrew’s School, Pangbourne. Will Carter, Head of Juniors, expressed his school’s commitment: “It is our pleasure to support Reading Family Aid’s toy appeal at St Andrew’s. Being able to play even the smallest part in helping to make a child’s Christmas that bit more special is a great privilege. We look forward to continuing to work alongside the RFA team for years to come”. 

Donations of new or nearly new toys can be dropped off at designated collection points throughout Reading. These gifts will go directly to children referred by social workers, charities, schools, and places of worship that work with families in need.

Every donation makes a difference. Whether it's an artistic gift set, an exciting board game, or an engaging book, each present has the potential to create lasting memories and bring hope. If you're unsure what to buy, the charity’s wishlist is a great place to start, or you can donate directly to the Go Fund Me page.

A challenge the appeal faced last year was a shortage of gifts for teenagers aged 13 and over. This age group is often overlooked during the holiday season. The appeal asks supporters to consider donating items such as board games, makeup kits, art sets, or gift cards to ensure that teenagers are included and feel valued this Christmas.

This holiday season, your generosity is vital to helping the appeal in its aim that no child wakes up without a present on Christmas morning. For more information on donation points or how you can help, please visit the website or follow on social media.

Let’s work together to make this Christmas unforgettable!

​Thank you so much for your support!

The congregation of St Andrew's Church in Caversham Heights have chosen Reading Family Aid as their charity for the 2024/25 year.
They launched this year's fundraising on Saturday 17th November with a tea party.

Shelley Montague, Church Warden said "​St Andrew's Church Autumn Tea Party was well supported and raised overall around £1,700, of which £1,200 will be given to the church's chosen charity, Reading Family Aid, with the remainder going to support St Andrew's Preschool.
The members of the congregation chose Reading Family Aid as their charity of the year because it is a local charity supporting local families, endeavouring to fulfil some of the needs not being met by others."

Vivienne and Sheila from Reading Family Aid attended the event and had a stall giving out information about the charity to the attendees. Vivienne gave a short talk about Reading Family Aid and thanked everyone for choosing us.

Reading is widely regarded as an affluent, successful tech hub, but for some families, the reality is starkly different. This winter, many parents face the heartbreaking choice between heating their homes or feeding their families. For these families, buying Christmas presents is completely out of the question.
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​​And this is where Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens Appeal aims to help. The appeal, sponsored by The Chronicle, collects new and nearly new toys and distributes them to families across Reading and the surrounding areas in time for Christmas. Charlie McLean, Publicity Manager for the charity, said “I have two young boys and I can’t imagine having to tell them that Santa hasn’t come this year. Christmas is a magical time in our family, and to have to explain to them they wouldn’t be getting any presents would be devastating. This appeal is so important, bringing a little joy to the lives of families who are truly struggling”.

This year, the Toys and Teens Appeal has received generous sponsorship from local radio station B Radio. Gavin Harris from the station explained: “For our team, this appeal is incredibly personal. Many of our presenters and producers live in Reading and see firsthand the struggles many families are facing. Living in an area where the cost of living is high, it's easy for these challenges to be overlooked, especially as the wealthier parts of Reading can mask the financial pressures so many face. For our team, supporting this goes beyond our roles at the station—it's about giving back to our neighbours and friends and doing what we can to make a difference for families in need this Christmas. For the children receiving these gifts, it’s about much more than a present—it's a reminder that the community cares about them, and it's a chance for them to experience the magic of the season despite the challenges their families might be facing”.

​In 2023, the appeal brought smiles to the faces of 2,500 children across Reading by providing them with toys and gifts. This year, the goal is to surpass that number—but your help is crucial to making it happen. Donations of new and nearly new toys can be dropped off at designated collection points around town. These gifts will go directly to children referred by social workers, charities, schools, and places of worship working with families in need.
​
​Every single donation counts. Whether it’s an artistic gift set, an exciting game, or an engrossing book, each gift has the potential to create lasting memories and spread hope. If you’re unsure of what to buy, the charity’s wishlist is a great place to start, or you can donate directly to the Go Fund Me page.

​
​One challenge the appeal faced last year was a shortage of gifts for teenagers aged 13 and over. This age group is often overlooked during the holiday season. Supporters are encouraged to consider donating items like board games, makeup kits, art sets, or gift cards to ensure no teenager feels left out.

​Join us this holiday season to make a tangible difference in our community. Your generosity is vital in ensuring that every child in Reading experiences the magic of Christmas. Together, we can create a community where no child wakes up without a present on Christmas morning.

For more information on donation points or how you can help, please visit our website or follow us on social media. Let’s work together to make this Christmas unforgettable!