A Preston business centre is ensuring disadvantaged children have a present to open this Christmas.
Cotton Court Business Centre is once again championing Barnardo’s after working with the children’s charity for the last nine years through the Christmas Gift Appeal.
The appeal unites individuals and businesses across the county to ensure that the young people that Barnardo’s support in Lancashire have Christmas gifts.
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Debbie Nolan-Plunkett, assistant director at Barnardo’s, said: “The difference donations make is difficult to measure in the amazing transformation it can bring to families and young people living on their own.
“We are seeing more and more families struggling and unable to afford the Christmas they want for their children, and being able to help them out and make their Christmas magical is an amazing experience.
“Our young people living in supported accommodation often have no one to turn to at Christmas other than our teams, and being able to ensure that all of them have something to open on Christmas day makes a huge difference to their belief that somebody actually cares for them enough to donate a present.”
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Donors can bring a gift to the business centre on Church Street or make a financial donation through a dedicated JustGiving page so that Barnardo’s Lancashire Services staff can purchase gifts.
Lancashire businesses have offered raffle prizes so that everyone who donates, either a gift or financial donation, will be entered. Up for grabs are meal vouchers, VIP drinks packages, hotel accommodation, training courses and more.
The charity said this year there is a particular focus on gifts for older children, teenagers and young adults as many think Barnardo’s supports only young children, but this is not the case.
The service supports people into their teenage years and young adulthood, and it is often the upper age category that struggles for gift donations.
It can be difficult to choose suitable gifts for the older age category, so the business centre has compiled a list of recommended items to assist supporters.
The public can help the appeal achieve its target by donating an unwrapped gift for a child, teenager or young adult at Cotton Court Business Centre reception between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
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To view the list of presents for teenagers and young adults, visit – https://cottoncourt.co.uk/suggested-gifts-for-teenagers-and-young-adults-2/
To donate through the JustGiving page, visit – https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cotton-court-barnardos-2021
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