Lancashire children’s gift appeal launches at Cotton Court

Preston’s Cotton Court Business Centre is once again championing the cause of the children’s charity Barnardo’s this Christmas.

The Cotton Court team are no strangers to working with the children’s charity. For the last nine years they’ve run a Christmas Gift Appeal, bringing together individuals and businesses from across the county, to ensure the young people Barnardo’s support in Lancashire have a gift to open.

People can bring a gift into the business centre on Church Street, or they can make a financial donation through a dedicated JustGiving page so that Barnardo’s Lancashire Services staff can purchase gifts for all of the young people they look after.

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 to 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."

Lancashire businesses have already stepped up and have offered some amazing raffle prizes so that everyone that donates, either a gift or financial donation, will be entered into a raffle. Up for grabs are meal vouchers, VIP drinks packages, hotel accommodation, training courses and much more.

There is a particular focus on gifts for older children, teenagers and young adults. Many people think that Barnardo’s supports just very young children, but this isn’t the case.

The service supports people into their teenage years and young adulthood, and it’s often the upper age category that struggles for gift donations.

As it can be difficult to choose suitable gifts for the older age category, this year the business centre has compiled a list of recommended items to assist kind supporters of the appeal if they so wish. That can be viewed here: https://cottoncourt.co.uk/suggested-gifts-for-teenagers-and-young-adults-2/

You 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.

Or you can donate through the JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cotton-court-barnardos-2021