Downtown Radio and Cool FM’s Cash for Kids are on a Mission this Christmas

Radio stations’ Christmas campaign to make sure no child in Northern Ireland goes without

With almost one in four children in Northern Ireland living in poverty*, the team at Downtown Radio and Cool FM’s Cash for Kids is urging NI folk to accept its mission to buy one extra gift as they shop for Christmas this year.

Downtown Radio and Cool FM’s “mission” this Christmas is to support vulnerable children across the community.

With Harry Corry as title sponsor, the initiative will see each of the retailer’s 18 branches acting as “drop off points” for the public to donate a gift for a disadvantaged child. The appeal is also supported by Mace, Centra and Sprucefield Shopping Centre who will be collecting toys alongside over 600 other businesses across Northern Ireland.

With the latest government research revealing that Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK which has experienced an increase in child poverty, Andrea Charles, Cash for Kids Charity Manager believes Mission Christmas can help make a difference to many young people:

“The facts paint a worrying and stark picture about poverty in our community. Our mission at Cash for Kids is to help these vulnerable young people, many of whom will wake up to nothing on Christmas morning without our help.

“Last year we distributed gifts to over 6000 children – which was fantastic – but the need is greater than ever this Christmas.  We would encourage everyone to support those less fortunate than themselves by buying an extra gift this year and dropping it in to their nearest drop off point.”

Mark Corry, Marketing Manager at Harry Corry added: “We’re extremely proud to be supporting the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas appeal for the third year running.  Christmas is a time for giving, and we hope that the public get behind the campaign and make sure no child goes without this year.”

The Mission Christmas appeal seeks donations of new and unwrapped toys, clothes or games which can be left into any of the drop off points in towns and cities across Northern Ireland.

“We always find ourselves with a particular shortage of gifts appropriate for children aged 0–3 or 14–17.” continued Andrea, “Every year we run short of gifts suitable for children within these age groups.”

Cash for Kids is also inviting underprivileged families, living in difficult circumstances, to apply to receive gifts by contacting one of the organisations registered to benefit from the campaign.  This includes governing bodies such as Social Services or a registered charity such as The Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Home Start, Barnardos, Women’s Aid.  A list of all organisations that can be contacted is available on the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas website.

Visit the Mission Christmas website at www.downtown.co.uk/mission for a full list of all drop off points or to donate £5 text the word GIFT to 70808**.