It’s the penultimate week of Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens Appeal. The charity is raising funds to buy presents for underprivileged children living in Reading and the surrounding areas at Christmas time.  So far over £11,000 has been raised by generous donors, but the charity hope to reach their target of £15,000 in order to help as many children as possible this Christmas.
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MPs from Reading have kindly lent their support to the appeal. MP for Reading West Alok Sharma said:

“I am delighted to support the Toys and Teens Appeal again this year. The Appeal raises funds to buy Christmas presents for children in need in the local Reading area. Christmas is a time to remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves and I think it is testament to the excellent community spirit we have in Reading that, even in these incredibly difficult times, local people continue to be so generous.”

​One of the Toys and Teens volunteers knows only too well how important an appeal like this can be.  

David* said “Growing up I had six siblings and my father was a chronic alcoholic.  We never had any money and were always desperate for food and clothes. We relied on the generosity of the local church and school. It was incredibly hard relying on other people. Kids at school took the mickey and you grew up real tough. But thanks to the generosity of appeals like this Christmas was great. We were given fruit and games as presents from the church, and I could go back to school and say I got something.  I knew kids that didn’t get anything for Christmas”. 

“In Reading today there is still true poverty, with families sleeping in one room with all of their children and single mums having to do desperate things to feed their kids.  Children can’t control their circumstances, which is why Reading Family Aid’s Christmas appeal tugs at my heartstrings more than anything else. I’ve been there and I hope people donate to help this cause”. 

The charity has set up a fundraising page and is asking you to donate money instead of gifts. The fundraising page will remain open until December 4 after which the funds will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to deprived children across Reading.

There will be no donation points this year and the charity is unable to accept any gifts to limit the spread of Covid-19.

As well as donating, the charity would be incredibly grateful if you considered holding a fundraising event.

You could organise a ‘mufti day’ at school or the office, a pyjama day for your ‘Zoom’ meetings, or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.
 
*Name changed to protect anonymity ​

The Labour MP of Reading East, Matt Rhodda, and the Conservative MP of Maidenhead, Twyford and Hurst, Rt Hon Theresa May have expressed their support for a local charity’s Christmas Toy fundraiser. They are urging the Berkshire community to donate to the cause.  
 
Matt Rhodda said: “I believe the toys and teens appeal is one of the most important at this time of year. I fully support it, and ask the community to offer all their help to make it the best one ever this Christmas. Due to Covid-19 it has been a difficult year for families and I believe this is an incredibly important initiative to help families at this difficult time”.  
 
With over 28,000 children living below the breadline in Reading, this equates to more than one in three children who live in poverty[1].  After paying for housing and utilities these families have just £19 a day to live on[2], which has to cover food, clothes, transport, birthdays and everything else they might need.  Reading Family Aid are fundraising to provide presents for these underprivileged children living in Reading and the surrounding areas.  Without your help, these children may not get a Christmas present this year. 
 
Mrs May said: “I am urging as many people as possible to come forward and donate to Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens Appeal initiative. This fantastic local initiative raises money to ensure those most disadvantaged children locally receive presents this Christmas time. Christmas is a special time of year, but this year will be particularly difficult. That is why schemes such as this are more important than ever and Reading Family Aid do an excellent job bringing joy to many children throughout the festive period”.

​The Mayor of Reading, Councillor David Stevens, is supporting a local charity’s Christmas Toy appeal this year.  Reading Family Aid are fundraising to buy presents for underprivileged 0-16 year olds living in Reading and the surrounding areas.
 
Cllr. Stevens said “Covid has had quite a dramatic effect.  In Reading we know that people are struggling. They’re losing jobs and unable to work. We’re seeing people more reliant on food banks, needing support from council services.  Families are those people who are suffering most and that’s why we need to help them in any way we can. We really do need your help this year. It’s a bigger ask than every other year. Anything you can give is much appreciated. Please do donate, thank you very much”.   
 
The Christmas Toys and Teens Appeal, organised by Reading Family Aid, will be slightly different this year due to the pandemic.  In order to protect volunteers, and supporters, the charity has decided not to open up donation points this year. In its place, the charity has set up a fundraising page and is asking you to donate money instead of gifts.  This money will then be used to buy new Christmas presents for disadvantaged children in Reading, which will be delivered directly to the organisations that help them. 

Charlotte Morgan is Head of Campus at Reading College.  The College helps to distribute toys from the charity’s Christmas appeal to children in need.  She said “Some of our students who receive presents live in supported living and may be alone on Christmas Day. We have had a number of students that look forward to this present all year round, as this is their one opportunity to feel treated”. 
 
When asked about the impact of Covid-19 on her students, Charlotte said “There has been a huge increase in financial hardship and homelessness this year [due to Corona virus] which has increased levels of worry in students. Many students often feel lonely and isolated at Christmas and the current situation has exacerbated this in many cases. This year’s gift appeal will be more important than ever for this reason”. 
 
“Something small to you, such as the price of a coffee or two in a café, can have such a huge impact on somebody and how they feel in themselves. The pandemic has reminded us all of the importance of looking out for one another and being supportive where we can, and this project embodies that completely”.

Given the significant financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on many, we are expecting more children than ever before to need your help. As well as donating, the charity would be incredibly grateful if you considered holding a fundraising event.You could organise a ‘dress up day’ at school or the office, dust off your black tie and party frocks, a pyjama day for your ‘Zoom’ meetings, or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.  Anything you can give, no matter how small will make a huge difference to these families at Christmas time.  Thank you.
 
We’d also like to say a big thank you to all of our sponsors: Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow and Caversham Vehicle Hire.

Our fundraising page will remain open until 4th December, at which point the fund will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to underprivileged children across Reading. We’d also like to give a big thank you to our sponsors: Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow, Caversham Vehicle Hire.
 
To donate, please visit our Go Fund Me crowdfunding page. 

You can also print out a poster here.

“30% of children in the U.K. are currently living in poverty”[1] – a shocking statistic that highlights the increasing plight of thousands of children in this country. In our town, the figures are equally astonishing with 28.6% and 27.3% of children classified as living in poverty in Reading West and Reading East respectively. This equates to over 15,000 locally affected children.

The negative impacts of poverty on children are wide reaching and indicate that this is an issue that affects every aspect of their lives. These children are at a greater risk of mental and physical health problems. They more frequently express a sense of hopelessness about their future. At school, they are more likely to go hungry or be punished for missing items of school uniform that their parents are simply unable to afford. They are more likely to be victims of bullying and to feel as though they are unsafe.[2]

Christmas for many families is a time for celebration, giving and happiness but for those living in poverty, it is often a time of worry, stress and guilt.
 
Jeanie Herbert is a Manager at Alana House.  The organisation helps to distribute toys from the charity’s Christmas appeal to families in need. She said “The additional cost of Christmas looms large and some parents see in advance that they will struggle to provide for their children. Families are suffering behind closed doors. Some are struggling to feed their children.  Parents have faced ongoing stress and children will have also felt the impact of this. For people to help with the toy project and bring some normality to families this Christmas in a very strange year, would be a huge blessing to many”.

In 2019 Reading Family Aid delivered presents to over 2,000 children, an increase of 300 on the previous year. Given the significant financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on many, we are expecting more children than ever before to need your help. As well as donating, the charity would be incredibly grateful if you considered holding a fundraising event. You could organise a ‘mufti day’ at school or the office, a pyjama day for your ‘Zoom’ meetings, or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.  Anything you can give, no matter how small will make a huge difference to these families at Christmas time.  Thank you.  

Our fundraising page will remain open until 4th December, at which point the fund will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to underprivileged children across Reading. We’d also like to give a big thank you to our sponsors: Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow, Caversham Vehicle Hire.
 
To donate, please visit our Go Fund Me crowdfunding page. 

You can also print out a poster here.

​References:
[1] www.endchildpoverty.org
[2] www.childrenssociety.org.uk

The Toys and Teens Appeal continues!

The Christmas Toys and Teens Appeal, organised by Reading Family Aid, will be slightly different this year due to the pandemic.  In order to protect volunteers, and supporters, the charity has decided not to open up donation points this year. In its place the charity has set up a fundraising page and is asking you to donate money instead of gifts.  This money will then be used to buy new Christmas presents for disadvantaged children in Reading, which will be delivered directly to the organisations that help them.

The appeal hopes to be back to normal in future years so if you can hold onto those new and nearly new gifts they will be greatly appreciated then, but for this year the need for your support is as great (if not greater) than ever.

Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on families across the UK.  The IPPR predicts the virus will plunge 1.1 million more people in the UK below the poverty line by the end of the year, including a further 200,000 children. [1]  In the last two weeks of March, the number of households with children helped by the Trussell Trust’s food banks increased by 122% in the UK.[2]  Devastatingly, Covid-19 has plunged many more Reading families into poverty.  
 
A woman who received toys for her children from the project last year wrote to the charity recently to say:
 
“This year has been a difficult year for everyone with many ups and downs. I started the year positive with a job (and happy).   But then lockdown hit and I was yet again left unemployed. Depression settled in as I have struggled to find money to feed my three children, which is even harder than normal as I have been benefit capped and am £600 a month worse off than before. I'm taking one day at a time at the minute. I am hoping that Reading Family Aid will be able to help me again this year. Without the charity’s help, I would really struggle to make Christmas special for my children. Each year they continue to help less fortunate families, so thank you and please continue to give hope”. 
 
But the Toys and Teens Appeal is here to help.  Sponsored by The Reading Chronicle and organised by Reading Family Aid, the charity is raising funds this year to buy new presents to give to disadvantaged Reading families at Christmas time. 
 
Your generosity has helped us to get gifts to families in need for 50 years and still has the power to make such a big impact on the Christmases of those we can reach.  Last year the Office Manager of a local school, after receiving a delivery of toys for families in need, said: 
 
“We were completely overwhelmed when the parcels were dropped off. Seeing the generosity of people and knowing the impact the gifts will make and the burden lifted off our families at this time of year brought tears to our eyes.  
 
The looks of surprise, relief and thankfulness on the parents’ faces when they collected the toys for their children were overwhelming. Thank you.” 
 
As well as donating, the charity would be incredibly grateful if you considered holding a fundraising event. You could organise a ‘mufti day’ at school or the office, a heroes and heroines day at your child’s nursery, print out our poster and stick it in your window or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.  Anything you can give, no matter how small will make a huge difference to these families at Christmas time.  Thank you. 
 
Our fundraising page will remain open until 4th December, at which point the fund will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to underprivileged children across Reading. We’d also like to give a big thank you to our sponsors: Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow, Caversham Vehicle Hire.
 
To donate, please visit our Go Fund Me crowdfunding page. 

You can also print out a poster here.

References:
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[1] https://www.ippr.org/news-and-media/press-releases/1-1-million-more-people-face-poverty-at-end-of-2020-as-a-result-of-coronavirus-pandemic-finds-ippr

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/01/uk-food-banks-face-record-demand-in-coronavirus-crisis