This year’s Santa Appeal has been another absolute triumph, with the Bridgend community stepping up in a truly phenomenal way to ensure local children have a magical Christmas. Thanks to the incredible generosity of residents, local groups, schools, churches, and businesses, the appeal has not only met but exceeded all expectations.
The online ‘Just Giving’ donations page, set-up in collaboration with our partners at Awen Cultural Trust, saw it not only reach, but smash its target of £10,000, with an incredible £11,869.13 raised (including Gift Aid). On top of that, gift donations have been arriving regularly at the council’s Civic Offices and designated drop-off points at Awen and Halo Leisure facilities across Bridgend County Borough.
We’ve seen some truly heartwarming contributions from individuals and local businesses alike, while a group of Year 8 pupils at Cynffig Comprehensive School designed posters, delivered assembly presentations, researched suitable gift ideas for a ‘Giving Tree’, to encourage staff, pupils, parents, and visitors to the school to get involved in donating to this year’s appeal.
The generosity didn’t stop there! Our own council teams, including Social Services and Wellbeing and Day Services, got creative with bake sales, Bridgend College, and Porter’s Estate Agents made significant donations of toys, gifts, or cash.
A special shout-out goes to the incredible 50 volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to wrapping and sorting over 1,400 toys and gifts. The gifts will be going to children and young people in our care, nominated by our Social Care and Early Help/Flying Start teams.