Hundreds of struggling Leicestershire families have received presents, festive hampers and food vouchers over Christmas.
Leicestershire County Council Children and Family Wellbeing Service has been busy preparing Christmas activities and the distribution of toys and treats to bring families some festive cheer from its network of Family Hubs throughout the county.
Family workers in Hinckley & Bosworth have been running their annual toy appeal in partnership with the Salvation Army and have distributed 1,095 presents for children across the borough, many donated by the local community and businesses. Together, they have also given out a record £17,000 worth of food vouchers from the Hinckley Food Bank to help vulnerable families buy festive fare.
In North West Leicestershire and Blaby, Oadby & Wigston, Christmas treat hampers were delivered to families in need. The hampers contained a selection of Christmas dinner ingredients, store cupboard staples, fresh fruit and veg and party food, as well as Christmas crackers, games and festive fun ideas.
A total of 156 children in Blaby, Oadby & Wigston received toys and selection boxes thanks to monetary donations from local businesses and local people who bought and donated toys.
Additionally in North West Leicestershire, 91 children received toys after the service successfully applied to the Gem radio station toy appeal, as well as receiving a donation from the Prisoner Service Charity. There was also a post-Christmas wellbeing event, where the who family could have fun doing crafts and bingo, plus tips and ideas for relaxation, healthy eating and mindfulness.
The Charnwood team delivered gifts which were donated via Gem FM and Toys on the Table. Gifts have been delivered to 65 refugee and asylum seeking children in Loughborough and a further 108 families have received gifts from Santa across the locality, as well as running the Holiday Activities and Food scheme (HAF), between Christmas and New Year.
We are so pleased that these toys and hampers are going a small way towards making Christmas a special day for some of the most vulnerable families in Leicestershire. We recognise that with the current cost of living increases, things are tougher than ever for many.
Person:Councillor Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for children and families
I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and extend a thank you to the children, families and companies who have donated toys and food for this valuable project.
One parent said: "Thank you so much, our delivery came on Monday and I cried I was so overwhelmed. We got a whole bag of presents and I am just lost for words. Because of you I am not crying about Christmas Day, it’s the best gift I could have ever received. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Another parent said: "This has literally saved Christmas! With the cost of living crisis and struggling from month to month, this has now given my children something to look forward to at Christmas. Brilliant gifts for the kids that are very much appreciated."
A third said: "Thanks to the food appeal I don't have to worry about putting hot meals on their plates during the festive season. Thanks to the toy appeal I know my children have at least a couple of presents each to open on Christmas Day."
Staff from the Children and Family Wellbeing Service are also running free Leicestershire Holidays Together Holiday Activity Fund (HAF) sessions for children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. The sessions – which include a nutritious meal - are designed to keep children entertained and healthy over the two-week festive break.
For more information visit the Holiday Activity Fund web page.
The county council is thankful for all donations it has received, with special thanks to Tanwood Construction for putting the team in touch with other donators, and Gemma Blighton & Friends for arranging the collection of the toys.