The Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Christmas Appeal for Children

The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Cllr Paul Goggin called by Barratt House in Bristol today to pick up a £3,000 donation and sack load of children’s gifts collected by the housebuilder’s staff for his Christmas Appeal for Children. The Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal delivers some 1,650 food and toy vouchers to as many families in the city who need them most. Barratt Homes Bristol’s Community Chest funds supports a different charity each month and say this Appeal has long been on the list for their monthly £3k donation, but their team wanted to contribute gifts as well to a cause that shares such good will and so many good things across the city in the countdown to Christmas.

“We learn about and are inspired by the charities we support, and when we saw the difference this Christmas Appeal makes and heard from the Lord Mayor’s office the stories of families they support, we all wanted to do a little more by collecting together presents to pass on,” says Barratt Bristol’s Sales Director Andrea Pilgrim.

Cllr Goggin said the donation would deliver dozens of toy and food vouchers to families who need them most. “We have been astonished by this, and all the kindness we are seeing,” he said. “Every penny and every gift makes a difference,” he said.  The Lord Mayor’s charity dates back over 100 years (it started by giving out shoes to children in poverty) and chair of his committee, Joy Simmonds, said they were mindful of how much need they are seeing this year, moved by the individual stories of struggle, and so touched by the generosity of people and companies wanting to support the hundreds of families they help. “The donation will make such a difference to the work we’re doing this year, and this amazing pile of gifts will prove the best Secret Santa bonus for so many children.”