A FESTIVE appeal that provides 3,500 gifts to disadvantaged children across the Bradford district is aiming to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a record haul of presents this year.

Bradford Junior Chamber International's JCI) Secret Santa Appeal, which originally began as the Christmas Tree Appeal in 1989, has raised the equivalent of more than £300,000 over the last decade.

Every year a host of different organisations, schools, and companies get involved to donate gifts and provide sponsorship, volunteers, storage, and promotion, as well as running mini-appeals in their own workplaces.

JCI Bradford also co-ordinates collections and events in Calderdale and Kirklees to boost the appeal, which this year runs from Saturday, November 29, to Sunday, December 14.

Michelle Pemberton, JCI Bradford’s community director, said: "This is a significant milestone for JCI Bradford and for me, it is a challenging time to continue the success of this project.

"Christmas for most of us is a time to celebrate, have a break and indulge ourselves, but for many families and children Christmas is just another day in their poverty-ridden lives.

"We can only hope that poverty in the UK is overcome, but in the meantime the Secret Santa Appeal will try to help those less fortunate."

The 2014 appeal is being sponsored by the 5Rise Shopping Centre in Bingley, making it the first organisation to sponsor the festive project four years in a row.

One of the first schools to get on board this year was Bradford Grammar School, which organisers describe as "key supporters" for more than 15 years.

JCI is a global network for young people in their 20s and 30s with nearly 200,000 members worldwide, and helping with the Secret Santa Appeal gives the opportunity for local Bradford members to take the lead to hone their project management skills.

Philip Cavalier-Lumley, JCI Bradford’s past president and Secret Santa Appeal co-ordinator for more than ten years, said: "JCI Bradford has grown over the last two years and with a new team of bright and enthusiastic members it is wonderful to see young people taking on projects like this to develop their skills and experiences.

"This project is one of the largest of its kind in the country, and the appeal has enjoyed amazing support from the local Bradford community over the years.

"I must thank each and every adult and child who has put their hand in their pocket, and possibly gone without something themselves, just to buy a child a gift."

This year's appeal runs over three weekends, and has drop-off points for presents at the 5Rise Shopping Centre, Bingley, and the Kirkgate Shopping Centre, Bradford.

For more information and ways to get involved in the appeal, visit jcibradford.org.uk/secret-santa.