What Was Achieved
Thank You
Donating Businesses and Organisations
Stars of the Appeal
Highlighted Charities and Causes
Charities Supported this Year
Some feedback from those who benefited
Thursday 15th December 2016 saw this year's CVS Cheshire East Christmas Toy Appeal come to an end with all collected toys and gifts distributed to charities and groups across Cheshire East who directly support children and families facing hardship this Christmas.
With the generosity of the Cheshire East community we were able to help 46 charities and organisations who applied to receive toys from the appeal with the estimated 3000! donations we received. There were that many donations, especially in the last few days of the appeal that we couldn't do an accurate count!
The response to the appeal this year has been incredible and stands as a real testament to the generous and community spirit of the people of Cheshire East. We'd like to say a huge thank you to all those who got behind the appeal and supported this festive cause. This year a record 17 companies and organisations pledged their support to the appeal and thanks to them we were able to fulfill each submitted request for toys and not leave anyone disappointed. Over the last 5 years this appeal has run this year was indeed the most successful and has had a tremendous impact.
Thank you to our long-standing returning supporters, the staff at Astra Zeneca who each year have held a huge a toy collection from their many staff members and to Crewe Alexandra FC who acted as a collection point and who also allowed us to hold a cash collection at one of their home games for us to buy toys on behalf of their fans. Instrumental to this year's appeal and without them it could not been as big were Storage Boost Crewe. To be able to collect and amass 3000 gifts and toys means we need somewhere to keep them until they are distributed. Storage Boost provided not only the space to store all the toys during the appeal but also a space for us and a team of volunteers to sort and distribute the toys from on the last day of the appeal and the staff where accommodating and supportive every step of the way.
We'd also like to say a special thank you to Sheena at DWP and her volunteers (Kate Ashcroft, Debbie Fish, Barry Harrison-Pitt, Helen McGrath, Norma Makin and Marie-Louise Warren) who spent the day with us at Storage Boost sorting through the thousands of gifts and toys donated and preparing them for collection by the benefiting charities.
And a special thank you to Crewe based PTP Logistics who provided the much needed transportation of the large donation from Astra Zeneca and offered their services in aid of the appeal. Another vital contribution in making this year the most successful we have had.
Thank you also to all the individual members of the public who went out of their way during their busy shopping trips to buy and donate gifts via one of our collection points. And to those who played our festive themed fairground games at the Congleton Christmas Lights turn on event. Your generosity together with the business and organistaions below have contributed to making Christmas that much joyful for disadvantaged families and children across Cheshire East.
Close Brothers - www.closebrothersam.com
Close Brothers had fun holding a toy collection in their offices as well as holding a dress down day raising funds for the appeal. Close Brothers were the first in a host of new supporters we have had this year and we couldn't be happier to have them and all other new supporters come on board.
Richmond Village Nantwich - www.richmond-villages.com/retirement-villages/nantwich
Held a raffle for a beautiful frozen themed Elsa teddy bear, all funds raised from the raffle were donated to the Christmas toy appeal and we purchased toys and gifts on Richmond Villages behalf. Richmond Villages also held a collection with their residents and their visiting families, some fantastic gifts where donated including a brilliant remote controlled helicopter that will surly bring some Christmas cheer to a deserving child. It was great to have Richmond Village pledge their support this year and we hope they will support us again in the future.
Blue Group (Central) - www.blue-group.com
Blue group raised a whopping £1000 internally and with some shrewd shoppers finding some great half price and 3 for 2 deals turned that £1000 into a fantastic assortment of gifts and toys for the appeal, including a brilliant set of gifts for teenagers.
Cooper Buckley Ltd - www.cooperbuckley.co.uk
The staff at Cooper Buckley picked up on this year's appeal thanks to the awareness raised by Richmond Villages Nantwich and pledged their support with a toy collection from their staff and lorry drivers. It was fantastic to learn of the reach the appeal has had in the and how it has resonated with the Cheshire East community.
Trac Precision - www.chromalloy.com
The staff at Trac Precision continues to show the selfless generosity the Cheshire East community has to offer those less fortunate. They held a toy collection in-house and much like our other supporters raised a donation beyond what we would have expected.
Elior UK - www.elior.co.uk
Macclesfield based Elior UK pledged their support for the first time this year and it looks like Elior and their staff really got behind the appeal and had a fun time by collecting a massive 341 gifts! We couldn't be more pleased to have their support and will hope they support us again next year.
Wulven Housing - www.wulvern.org.uk
Wulven Housing were another newly welcomed supporter of the appeal this year, they also held an in-house toy collection among their staff and showed a real eager generosity in helping to spread joy to the families and children who would might otherwise be without presents on Christmas morning with an amazing donation of toys.
Medtrade www.medtrade.co.uk
Medtrade, another new toy appeal supporter, donated money to the appeal that they saved in postage costs by sending their company Christmas cards via email. A fantastic contribution and their consideration of our appeal is greatly appreciated. With the money they donated we purchased a host of gifts for the 12-15 year old age group on their behalf.
The County Group www.countyins.com
The County Group where yet another new supporter of the appeal, they publicised the appeal among their staff and held a toy collection in-house and donated a brilliant array of toys. We hope they had as much fun collecting the toys and the children will playing with them on Christmas morning.
Stars of the Appeal
We couldn't have reached as many of the people as it did without the help of the Maccelsfield Express publicising the appeal. Its thanks to the Macclesfield Express that we were found by reader Mr Glyn Rowley and his wife Kathleen. Glyn and Kathleen spent months collecting presents in the hope of donating them to a charity over Christmas and offered them to the CVS Cheshire East Christmas Toy Appeal after spotting us in the paper. Glyn said "it's a matter close to our hearts. We've got to a point in our lives where both of us are working and we're reasonably comfortable, we just wanted to give something back." Glyn and Kathleen donated over 1000 toys and gifts!! Thank you Glyn and Kathleen for what has been the biggest personal donation the appeal has ever had and all the time and effort is must have taken to collect such a donation. You both have made a real impact on the appeal and have helped make Christmas morning joyous for a great many disadvantaged children.
Single parents who have lost their benefits over the Christmas period and would not otherwise be able to provide presents for their young children this Christmas.
Gifts going to Cheshire Without Abuse are being distributed to children and young people who are temporally accommodated in crisis accommodation with their parent due to domestic abuse. Most cases those housed will have to start over again with nothing. A present will bring a smile to a child who has experienced trauma through no fault of their own and give them belief that they are valued.
Benefiting organisation Peaks and Plains Housing Trust work within tenancy support with some of the most vulnerable families in Cheshire East. Most of these families are on very low incomes, either working or out of work and rely on food parcels and help from Christian organisations. With that buying Christmas presents for their children becomes a financial impossibility.
Among all the charities and causes directly supported were:
Ash Grove Children’s Centre
Autism Inclusive
Carers Trust 4 All
Catch 22
Central Cheshire buddy Scheme
Cheshire East Family Services
Cheshire East Parent Carer forum
Cheshire Without Abuse
Cheshire & Warrington carers Trust
Cheshire Young carers
Child and adolescent unit
Community Agents (Cheshire Community Action)
Friends for Leisure
Hanfa
Home Start Central and West Cheshire
Hurdsfield Children’s Centre, Cheshire East Family Service
Macclesfield Cradle Concern
Mid Cheshire Riding for the Disabled
Oak Tree Children’s Centre
On Your Marks CIC
Peaks and Plains Housing Trust
South Cheshire Clasp
Space 4 Autism
The Welcome
Cheshire East Youth Support Service
Cheshire East Youth Support Services - 'It is so refreshing to see the generosity of local people and the difference it will make is unmeasurable.'
Cheshire Young Carers - "The parents were also incredibly grateful. Your donations mean that each of these young people will have something to open on Christmas morning
Farther Christmas visited the Central Cheshire Buddy Scheme early this year and with the help of the toy appeal brought festive cheer to all the children they care for. All the staff and at children at Central Cheshire Buddy Scheme would like to say thank you to everyone that supported the appeal and made this possible!
Children from Mid Cheshire Riding For The Disabled would like to thank all that helped with this years Christmas Toy Appeal in their own words, the appeal has certainly made their Christmas.
We here at CVS Cheshire East thoroughly enjoyed running the appeal and hope all those who contributed had fun doing so too. Knowing how much of a difference we have all made collectively to so many disadvantaged children within our own community serves as a great way to end 2016.
We will be back in 2017, once again running our CVS Christmas Toy Appeal. We hope all returning supporters return again next year along with all the new friends and supporters we have gained this year. Thank you all.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.