Sandwell Council held a breakfast celebration event to thank businesses for donating to a children’s Christmas gift appeal.
On Thursday 18 January, around 45 people attended the morning event at our Sandwell Start-Up Hub in Oldbury. Sandwell Council hosted it to say thank you for 300+ gifts donated to Sandwell Children’s Trust’s 2023 Christmas gift appeal.
Recognising that many children and young people would receive few, if any, Christmas presents, Sandwell Council had appealed to partners and local businesses to donate new toys and gifts for Sandwell Children’s Trust to distribute in the borough.
The campaign asked for items suitable for newborn babies and appropriate toys for children of various ages. Also, for older teenagers: fragrance, vouchers, hats or scarves.
Sandwell Council’s partners and business community responded with generosity, donating more than 300 gifts. These organisations included our social value partners: businesses committed to ensuring the work they do in Sandwell has social or environmental benefits that extend beyond the scope of their contracts.
The thoughtful businesses dropped their gifts off in Oldbury by late November. This gave staff at Sandwell Children’s Trust time to wrap and distribute them before Christmas to local children and young people.
‘A business community willing to do more for people’
Councillor Peter Hughes is Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and West Midlands Combined Authority. At the breakfast, he presented each participating business with a certificate of thanks.
He said: “It made me very proud to see our colleagues going the extra mile for the borough’s children – and I’m impressed with the businesses who rose to the challenge in supporting this campaign.
![Lee Kingston and Councillor Peter Hughes](https://sandwellbusinessgrowth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lee-Kingston-at-Ideal-Heating-and-Councillor-Peter-Hughes-rotated.jpg)
“Social value is important to Sandwell Council, and this has reinforced my belief that even in tough times we have caring partners and a business community willing to do more for people.”
‘You are all making a massive difference’
Jackie Hodgkins is Communications Manager for Sandwell Children’s Trust. She said at the time: “It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to help put smiles on children and young people’s face this Christmas. Particularly for the vulnerable children in Sandwell who may not get a gift this year without the generosity of those who donate.
“Thanks to everyone for their support and know that you are all making a massive difference to children’s lives.”
![People sitting in green chairs at the Sandwell Start-Up Hub, clapping](https://sandwellbusinessgrowth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Attendees-1024x768.jpg)
Thank you
Thank you to everyone involved, both at the event and with the Christmas gift appeal. Special thanks to our colleagues from Sandwell Children’s Trust:
Emma Taylor – Chief Executive
Tara Malik – Director of Resources
Steven Gauntley – Director of Operations
Teo Bot – Director of Quality and Performance
Tom Davies – Engagement Manager
Jackie Hodgkins – Communications Manager
And to the generous businesses who both donated to the appeal and attended our event:
- Axis Europe Plc
- Birmingham, Garage & Industrial Doors Ltd
- Bryant Electrical (Midlands) Ltd
- Corroy Products
- Countryside Partnerships
- Doocey Group
- Ideal Heating
- J McCann & Co Limited
- Jays Sourcing Group Ltd
- Lift & Engineering Services Ltd
- MCP Property Services Ltd
- Newey Group
- PHC Parts
- Sandwell Jobs KPM
- Sure Maintenance Ltd
- Tricas Construction Ltd
- Vinci Facilities
- Welch & Phillips Building Contractors Ltd.
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