Lift off for vital toy appeal that means so much to the community

THIS week saw the launch of a campaign that has been backed by the local community for almost five decades – the  2025 Kevin Jenkins OBE Newham Christmas Toy Appeal.

Recent years have been among the most challenging in living memory.

The cost-of-living crisis has driven rising child poverty and poorer mental health, pushing families already struggling into deeper difficulty. In Newham, over half of children now grow up in poverty, and the evidence shows those most in need are experiencing worsening, compounding challenges.

Now in its 48th year, the appeal, run by charity Ambition, Aspire, Achieve and backed by the Newham Recorder, is sadly needed more than ever.

The charity expects over 3,000 vulnerable children and young people to be referred, with early requests already outstripping previous years – reflecting the daily pressures so many local families face.

Every child the campaign supports is living with the realities of poverty, often alongside multiple challenges. These include poor or temporary accommodation, food insecurity, low wellbeing, educational barriers, behavioural difficulties, disability and additional needs, or the impact of abuse, violence or bereavement. Many families simply cannot afford gifts or seasonal food. Without help, Christmas Day would be just another day.

This year we aim to raise at least 15,000 new toys and gifts. Our goal is to provide each child with a Christmas stocking tailored to their age, needs, abilities and, wherever possible, a most-wished-for gift so they can experience a real Christmas morning.

For families, these stockings bring hope and resilience, a reminder that their community cares, and encouragement to keep moving forward -just as many past beneficiaries now do by supporting the Appeal themselves.

Said Jonny: “We’re proud once again to launch the Kevin Jenkins OBE Newham Christmas Toy Appeal, continuing the incredible legacy of its founder. This year, we face one of our most challenging appeals yet. Financial hardship continues to rise for so many children and families across Newham, while securing the support and funding needed to meet demand is becoming ever more difficult.

“Every donation and every hour of time given, no matter the size, truly matters. For many, Christmas simply wouldn’t be possible without the kindness and generosity of all those who support the appeal. It’s only by coming together that we can make this year’s appeal a success and ensure no child referred wakes up to an empty stocking this Christmas. Please do get in touch if you can help in any way.

Said Paula: “The Kevin Jenkins OBE Newham Christmas Toy Appeal is about bringing hope and happiness to children and families who might otherwise have very little to celebrate at Christmas. Each year, the appeal helps thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people across Newham wake up to a gift on Christmas morning — something many of us take for granted.

The appeal relies entirely on the kindness and generosity of our community — every donation, no matter how small, makes a real difference. With so many families struggling due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, your support is more important than ever. Together, we can make sure that every child feels remembered, valued, and included this Christmas.”

The Appeal’s success depends on the generosity of our supporters. Your help this year will make a genuine difference at a critical time, as financial pressures on families continue to grow.

The appeal kicked off this week with its first two donations – and the first sums up the mission of charity Ambition, Aspire, Achieve.

The charity has always been about helping young people to help themselves. And it is testament to those who run the organisation, that it inspires people who may have benefited themselves in years gone by to return and ‘give back.’

The gifts came from Donna and Wayne Howe, foster parents from Canning Town.

“They wanted to help to give back as their children received gifts from the appeal when they were younger,” said AAA’s Appeal Co-ordinator Paula Blake.

This donation was swiftly followed by one from Rosalind Briggs, who also popped into AAA’s Arc In the Park headquarters to present us with a rocking horse and other toys. Thank you for your kindness.

AAA inspires others to help make a difference.

• Pictured above :  Donna and Wayne with the gifts and Paula Blake
• Pictured also: Rosalind Briggs.

Also as part of the appeal I am  again raising funds for a special appeal that has been part of my life for 48 years…but  this year I am getting a little help from two of my grandchildren in completing the event that has helped me raise money for the campaign.

I helped launch the appeal with our charity’s founder Kevin all those years ago. The appeal has helped tens of thousands of children over those years and is still as relevant today as it was back then.

In past years I have managed to swim 50 lengths breaststroke, a tough ask because of my COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) to raise funds for the appeal. But earlier this year I had a double hernia operation, two years after a single hernia op. And just five days after this I had a nasty fall, which resulted me having to have another op – in the shape of a rotator cuff major repair. I am still on the road to recovery, lifting weights now. But it will take another year at least.

I have been training at swimming since I was allowed to do so by consultants for both ops, but two of my grandchildren, Laura, 11 and Natalie, eight, have decided to help me complete the target in case I cannot manage the full 50 lengths. Who knows we might swim more!

* Colin and Laura and Natalie

If you want to give via my Just Giving page go to:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/colin-grainger-602

You can also give a gift or gifts:

The charity has set up a specific appeal gift list at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3KOW2QDDVQZ3P? ref_=wl_share

The list includes a selection of gifts those running he campaign are hoping to be able to put into the Christmas stockings this year. The gifts are for varying ages and at various price levels. Any gifts purchased will be automatically delivered direct to the appeal.

Or please donate a cash gift.

Organisers can transform into gifts to fill the Christmas stockings this year.

The appeal specific Just Giving site is:

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/xmasappeal25

AAA can record the gifts and donations received and let everyone know after Christmas the difference your help has made for our areas most disadvantaged, vulnerable and at risk children in the most difficult of years.

Donations can be made in person at the Terence Brown Arc In The Park, in Bethell Avenue, Canning Town, from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Details on how you can support the campaign in general will be in the Recorder every week and on their website: www.newhamrecorder.co.uk

And AAA will feature the campaign on its Facebook, X and Instagram pages.

Please be part of that difference – thank you.