Portsmouth City Council’s largest ever Christmas appeal will bring festive cheer to hundreds of families across the city, following an overwhelming response from suppliers and staff who donated masses of toys and gifts.
The appeal attracted unprecedented support this year, with council suppliers and employees collectively donating hundreds of items to brighten Christmas for Portsmouth’s most vulnerable households.
Donated gifts include family games, children’s books, toys, teddies, sweets and essential everyday items that families need.
Six local community organisations have partnered with the council to collect and distribute the donations to those most in need across the city.
A donation sleigh was set up at Lakeside North Harbour, allowing businesses based at the site to contribute to the appeal.
Cllr Chris Attwell, Cabinet Member for Central Services, said: “We are totally blown away by the generosity of businesses we work with and our own council staff.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated, for helping to make Christmas brighter for many, many Portsmouth children and households.
“Our Christmas appeal is just one of the many ways we work with suppliers to deliver social impact and give back to our communities.”
Matt Foster, Founder and CEO of The Parenting Network, one of the groups delivering gifts, said: “This appeal means so much to the families we support. These gifts will form part of a toy shop at The Parenting Network. For parents, being able to choose and wrap a gift for their own child restores dignity, hope and a sense of being a parent first, not just someone in need.
“Thanks to the incredible generosity shown across the city, many children in Portsmouth will wake up to joy, excitement and feeling remembered this Christmas.”
The six local groups distributing gifts are HAVEN, a partnership supporting women who have experienced violence and exploitation; URBOND, focused on youth development; The Parenting Network, providing free services to families across South Hampshire; Buckland Soup Kitchen, supporting homeless people; Spark Community Space, helping those feeling isolated to reconnect; and Seekers Create, a creative social enterprise.
Contributors to this year’s appeal include E-Tec Electrical Limited, Tate Electrical Services Ltd, D M Habens The Builder Limited, Avison Young Ltd alongside Lakeside North Harbour Business Park tenants, Ahmarra Door Solutions Limited, Chapter 8 TM Limited, Portsmouth City Council staff, BQS Management Services, Balfour Beatty and Hi-Way Services Ltd.
