Charity Christmas gift appeal launches at Chantry Place to help families in Norfolk

Chantry Place is once again supporting Alive UK, a local charity which aims to provide emergency support for people in crisis in Norfolk, with a Christmas gifts and treats appeal for local children and their caregivers. The Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News are also partnering with Alive and Chantry Place on the appeal.

Last year 2,101 gifts and treats were donated, triple the amount from 2022, and this resulted in more than 900 families being helped over the Christmas period. People can donate unwrapped gifts, toys or chocolate treats, such as selection boxes, at a collection point on the lower ground floor of Chantry Place, opposite Boots, from Saturday 2nd November until Sunday 15th December 2024. Alive UK is also looking for donations of wrapping paper and sticky tape.

All gifts will be given to families in desperate need in Norfolk and all donations of new gifts are welcome for all ages, including babies, toys for children, presents for teenagers, or those that care for them.

Jo Thorne, chair of trustees, and pastor of Alive Church said: “Last year we helped many families and the generosity of visitors at Chantry Place was overwhelming. It makes such an incredible difference to these families, who are struggling through no fault of their own, which is why we want to launch the appeal again with the help of Chantry Place. People who donate really are helping give families a magical Christmas and we hope to support hundreds of families again this year.”

Jo Bates, operations manager at Chantry Place, said: “Alive UK is a charity supporting our local community with its incredible volunteers working so hard to care and give hope to families in Norfolk. Being able to see what a difference this appeal made last year to struggling families means that we had to do it again to spread some joy at this time of year. Alive volunteers deliver the unwrapped gifts and wrapping paper to care givers of the children so that they can enjoy wrapping the gifts themselves to give to their children.”

Alive UK, supported by Alive Church, is a registered charity. It has around 50 volunteers.