Posted on Tuesday 20th December 2022
Pictured preparing some of the presents for distribution are Mark Sutton and Melissa Martin, of the County Council's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities team.
Families have been receiving a little help before Christmas with a countywide toy delivery.
Staffordshire County Council’s children’s centre staff have been organising the annual collection and distribution of presents across the county with help from donors and volunteers.
Presents are shared with young children who may not otherwise expect too much from Father Christmas.
Mark Sutton, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Children and Young People, said:
It’s a difficult time for so many this year, so it is uplifting to see how the people of Staffordshire have responded to help others this Christmas.
Our children’s centres staff have been doing this now for 15 years and it never fails to move us to see how well received the presents are: when times are tough, knowing that someone is looking out for you can be a real boost.”
The new toys are collected each year from a variety of generous individuals, charities, shops and businesses and then distributed primarily to under-fives in families working with the council in one way or another.
This year donors have included the A Child’s Heart Charity, which donated gifts for children and mothers at a women’s refuge, and staff at Staffordshire County Council, who raised £225 through a Bake Off competition.
Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Communities and Culture, is leading the authority’s Here to Help initiative supporting residents through the winter.
Victoria added:
This winter I’ve already seen so many examples of members of communities supporting one another and this is another moment where I’m proud to call Staffordshire home.
I’d like to thank everyone involved whether they’ve donated gifts or given their time to make this happen.”
Further details on the Here to Help campaign and the wide range of support to help with the cost of living pressures is available at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/heretohelp.