Christmas present appeal for homeless children

21 November 2016

Notts County FC in the Community are asking for your help this Christmas...

Christmas is the time of year that is mostly associated with children unwrapping presents on Christmas morning and receiving the gift they had written to Santa or asked him for during their trip to his grotto. However some children’s Christmas mornings can unfortunately look a little different with no presents waiting under the Christmas tree. Notts County FC Football in the Community [FITC] are aiming to ensure this does not happen in Nottingham this December and you can help!

FITC, a registered charity, has teamed up with local women’s and homeless shelters this Christmas to bring some magic to the lives of the children currently living in their residence.

Child homelessness isn’t something widely reported but so far FITC have identified 202 children aged 17 and under who will be without presents this year, 90 of whom are under 5 years of age. As more shelters come forward for assistance this number will increase.

By donating a present or two for a child aged between just a few months old and 16 years of age you can make a positive difference to a young person’s life. Alternatively, you can donate money which will go towards the appeal that we will use to buy presents.

The drop off points for presents are:

Notts County FC Football in the Community’s office, Meadow Lane, Nottingham, NG2 3HJ or

Portland Centre, Muskham Street, Nottingham NG2 2HB

For the attention of Gemma Burman - call 0115 955 7215 or email mgb@nottcountyfitc.org.uk for more information

The deadline is Monday 12th December 2016

Notts County FC Football in the Community’s Media Officer, Gemma Burman, is heading up the appeal. She describes the motivation behind the appeal:

“Football in the Community were looking for something special to do this Christmas, and having just been involved in the CEO Sleepout, homelessness was at the forefront of our minds.

“We spoke to Notts County FC’s Club Chaplain, Rev. Liam O’Boyle, about what the statistics were like for child homelessness in Nottingham and the appeal started from there.

“One organisation we contacted hadn’t received Christmas donations for two years. It breaks my heart to think that there are children going back to school in the New Year to be surrounded by excited children talking about what Santa brought them for Christmas and have nothing to talk about. Anything the public can donate would help bring a smile to hundreds of young faces as-well-as their parents on Christmas Day.”

Nighat Mahmood, Team Leader for Places for People at Mellors Lodge was grateful for the offer of assistance and encourages the public to support the appeal.

"Not many people think of homelessness as being a family issue, but there are many two parent and single parent families who are currently living in the homeless system and are doing their best to become independent once again. These homeless families would like to provide a present for their child or children on Christmas morning and your kind donation will enable them to achieve this."

To keep up to date with the collection and to find out more information visit: www.nottscountyfitc.org.uk/news or www.facebook.com/NottsCountyFITC

 

 

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