Businesses urged to spread Christmas cheer

Businesses are being urged to get behind Burnley Together’s Christmas Gift Appeal when it launches on 19 October, helping to make Christmas special for children and teenagers across Burnley.

Now in its fifth year, the annual appeal collects new, unwrapped gifts for children and teenagers across Burnley, with businesses, schools, community organisations and individuals all encouraged to take part.

Last year, the appeal helped more than 1,000 children across Burnley, and this year the team is hoping to reach even more.

Businesses don't need to be based in Burnley to make a difference. Companies across Lancashire and beyond are welcome to support the appeal, whether by donating gifts, organising a workplace collection, encouraging colleagues to take part or simply helping to spread the word.

Ella Roberts, Burnley Together Gift Appeal coordinator said: “Every year, we are blown away by the generosity of local businesses and the support they give to the Christmas Gift Appeal. Their involvement helps us reach more families and make Christmas a little more magical for children and young people across Burnley.

“We simply couldn’t do it without them, and we hope even more businesses will get involved this year and help us create some special Christmas memories.”

For businesses, campaigns like this offer a simple way to turn good intentions into action. A collection box in the workplace can bring colleagues together. Choosing gifts can create conversations and shared experiences within a team. And businesses can demonstrate their values in a way that goes beyond an annual CSR report or a statement on a website.

Jessica Cooper, marketing director at VEKA, a longstanding supporter of the campaign, said: “As a business that has been part of Burnley for 40 years, we believe it's important to give back to the community that has supported us for so long. The Burnley Together Christmas Appeal is a fantastic initiative that helps local families create special memories at Christmas, and it also gives colleagues the opportunity to come together behind a common cause. We'd encourage other businesses to get involved and help make a positive difference for families across Burnley this Christmas.”

To support the campaign, businesses can:

• Donate gifts to the appeal
• Host a workplace collection point
• Encourage employees to donate
• Organise a team collection or fundraising activity
• Ask customers and suppliers to get involved
• Share the appeal through their own social media and communications
• Gifts are needed for children and young people from babies through to teenagers, with gift cards also welcomed for teenagers.

All gifts should be new and unwrapped and donated to Burnley Together by Friday 4 December.

To get involved with the Burnley Together Christmas Gift Appeal, visit burnleytogether.org.uk/christmas or email [email protected]