Christmas appeal receives record levels of requests…

Christmas appeal receives record levels of requests for disadvantaged children

More than 30,000 disadvantaged children across Greater Manchester will get a gift this Christmas as an annual appeal receives record levels of applications. The Mission Christmas campaign has received requests for help with gifts for children from more families across the city-region than ever before this year.

But it has also been harder than ever to find people who are able to donate. Nevertheless, thanks to the generosity of people in Greater Manchester, more children will have presents to open when they wake up on Christmas morning.

Charity manager Jess Rigby said the Hits Radio appeal has been 'inundated' with requests this year, but it has been more of a 'struggle' to get donations. She said: "Despite what everyone is going through with the cost of living, we've seen Manchester pull through."

The team at Cash for Kids worked tirelessly throughout December to make sure that gifts reached the homes of the children who need them most. The charity, which is run by Bauer Media, works with local grassroots organisations as well as social workers, headteachers and the emergency services who nominate families in crisis to be supported by the appeal.

This year, influencer Molly-Mae Hague and footballer Jesse Lingard helped out down at Mission Christmas HQ and gave their own 'very generous' donations. B&M Bargains and B&M Home Stores also supported the campaign by creating drop off points for gifts in all of their stores in the city-region.

The appeal also benefited from more than £30,000 worth of gifts from Manchester beauty brand P. Louise and £600 from Manchester Labour. It comes after the Manchester's Labour-run council committed to focus on children and young people across the city in 2022 in a year-long campaign.

Deputy leader Luthfur Rahman, council leader Bev Craig and Christmas spokesperson Pat Karney (Manchester Labour)

Labour councillor Garry Bridges, who is the executive member for Young People and Children at Manchester council, said: "We launched 'Our Year 2022' to give children a voice and not just empower but share power with them in order to put their priorities at the forefront of what we do. As Christmas approached, we knew the cost of living would be incredibly burdenous on families and young people, so we wanted to personally make donations as Labour councillors to the Mission Christmas appeal to ensure children in Manchester had something to open on Christmas day."

Reflecting on the success of the Mission Christmas appeal this year, Hits Radio presenter Gemma Atkinson said: "For many families 2022 has been a continuous and devastating financial struggle, with many facing the prospect of not being able to give their children a present this Christmas. We’re so happy that thanks to the incredible generosity of our listeners, we’re able to deliver joy to more than 30,000 children in our community. We couldn’t have done it without you, thank you!"

To make a contribution to future Cash for Kids campaigns or see how you can get involved, visit the Hits Radio website at www.hitsradio.co.uk/cashforkids.

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