Every year the Samaritans run Operation Christmas Child, otherwise known as the Shoebox appeal, to collect and raise funds to help children at Christmas in disadvantaged areas across the globe.

The initiative involves collecting items suitable for children, and then packing them up in a shoebox (or similar sized box) so they have a mixture of toys, colouring pens, notepads, toiletries and other items that they are short of. Items such as a bar of soap can make a big difference to children without these luxuries and so they are delighted when they open their boxes (you can see some of the videos on the social pages linked on the web page below).

We sent the message out to GMHQ and the team rallied together to collect a number of items from fun toys and colouring pens, to functional soap, hairbrushes and flannels. These were then sent to a local coordinator to pack and send off to the children.

We are delighted we have been able to help those less fortunate than us, and look to participate again next year.