HELP us bring some Christmas cheer to some of the most needy in the city by supporting our Telegraph & Argus Toys & Tins Christmas Appeal.

The appeal which will be an annual event will see toys plus tins of food distributed through our charity partner Bradford Women’s Aid which provides support, assistance and accommodation to women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

To set the ball rolling, Broadway toy shop, The Entertainer, has quickly come on board and donated our first batch of toys and Wilkinsons have also said they will donate gifts.

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: “Christmas, of all times, is a period when women and children torn from their homes by the fear or experience of abuse should be able to forget their troubles and enjoy a safe, loving and hopeful environment.

“Bradford Women’s Aid does a brilliant job of providing refuge for those who have suffered abuse and we hope the T&A’s Toys & Tins Appeal will help to bring at least a little comfort and joy into their lives.

“We hope our readers will help us to show there are many people out there who really do care about those less fortunate than ourselves.”

Sally Deane, director of Bradford Women’s Aid which works across all ethnicities said: “This appeal at Christmas time will mean everything to our clients. It will mean that families with very little or nothing will have toys and food over Christmas which will bring some happiness and comfort to otherwise what would be a bleak time. It will mean a lot to them to know that others have thought about them and made the effort to think about what food and treats they will be missing out on and what toys their children would otherwise have to do without.

“Bradford Women’s Aid is a charity which has been in operation for over 30 years set up by local women to help and support women and children whose lives have been affected by domestic abuse. Within our refuges, resettlement and outreach services in the last year we have supported 913 women and children many of who have moved away from their family and friends to escape domestic abuse.

“The charity is run `by women for women` and this is an important aspect of our work and ethos. We provide women’s refuges, community support and resettlement (move on) services to women and children. We understand the needs of women and children who have experienced domestic abuse and we offer help and support.

Last year 913 women and children were supported.

The charity is supported by Bradford Council, the Big Lottery Fund and Children in Need.

Nicola Greenwood, manager at The Entertainer said: “We are delighted to have been able to donate toys to the Toys & Tins Appeal. We do a lot of charity work and 10 per cent of our profits go to charities that work with children.”

Also supporting our Christmas appeal is Hays Travel Bradford who too are launching their own appeal to help Bradford Women’s Aid.

Their Suitcase Appeal asks for children’s gifts such as soft toys, board games, clothing and selection boxes, and women’s gifts such as toiletries and biscuits. These will be collected at Hays Travel at 52 Kirkgate and presented to Bradford Women’s Aid during office hours until December 23.

Any readers wishing to donate to our Toys & Tins appeal can leave items at our reception in Hall Ings between 9.30am and 3pm Monday to Friday until December 16.

Please do not wrap the toys so they can be sorted into appropriate ages and recipients. Please also ensure that tinned food has a lengthy ‘best before’ date.

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