Can you give to the Southampton toy appeal?

Communities, community organisations, local businesses and charities are being invited to donate new toys and gifts to the Southampton toy appeal and help spread festive cheer to our vulnerable children and young people this Christmas.

The donations of new toys and gifts will be distributed to children and young people aged 0-18 years who are supported by Southampton’s Children’s Services, as well as a number of families experiencing severe financial difficulties.

A number of toy and gift drop-off points are available in the city:

• Westquay Level Three, next to Auntie Anne’s Pretzels: Any day (9am-8pm)
• Civic Centre or One Guildhall Square reception desk: Mon-Fri (9.30am-5pm)
• Libraries: Central, Shirley, Lordshill, Thornhill, Bitterne and Portswood Mon-Sat (10am-4pm)
• Tudor House: Mon-Thurs (10am-3pm) and Sat-Sun (10am-5pm)
• Southampton City Art Gallery: Mon-Fri (10am-3pm) and Sat (10am-5pm)
• Sea City Museum: Any day (10am-5pm)
• Marlands Customer Service Desk on Ground Floor: Any day (9am-5pm)
• The MAST: Any day (10am-5pm)
• St Patricks Catholic Primary School, Woolston: Mon-Fri (9am–3pm)

All drop-off points will be open until 4pm on Sunday 17 December.

On behalf of the children and young people that receive the new toys and gifts, we are grateful for every donation. However, we have found that there is an increased need for gifts for young people, especially males aged 12-18, so a wish list has been created. The organisers are particularly keen to receive any of the following items:

• Man Bags
• Touch screen gloves
• Headphones
• Hair dryers
• Ruck sacks
• Hats and gloves
• Lava lamps
• Sports equipment (football, basketball, goalie gloves)
• Wireless speakers
• Boxing gloves
• Make up

The presents will be collected, sorted, and distributed by a team of over 300 volunteers from Southampton City Council and partner organisations throughout December with gifts distributed to children and families in time to open on Christmas morning.

Councillor Alex Winning, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning said: “Christmas is an important time of year where people come together to share the festive season but for some children, young people and their families, this can be a difficult time and knowing that someone is thinking of them, that they aren’t forgotten, really makes a difference. Buying an extra gift and popping it into one of the drop-off points around the city can make a child or young person’s day special.

“Our city has a huge heart. Our people are kind, our communities welcoming, our businesses and charities generous; its why when the annual Christmas toy appeal is launched, we come together to donate new toys and gifts to children and young people in need. No child or young person should be forgotten.”