This year's Tameside Toy Appeal has been an outstanding success - with special thanks also going to seven-year-old Olivia Kenyon.

Olivia designed and sold her own Christmas cards to raise money to buy toys for the appeal.

The Ashton youngster raised a massive £500 and went out and bought a huge collection of toys for the children of Tameside. She then attended St Peter’s Children’s Centre to hand over the toys. The Action Together Team hailed her a ‘superstar’.

A big thank you also goes to Petch Printers in Stalybridge for printing Olivia’s cards for free and B&M Bargains for giving Olivia 10 per cent off all of the toys so that she could buy more.

It isn’t the first time Olivia has supported the Tameside Toy Appeal. Last year she raised money for the appeal by making and selling hand-made Christmas baubles.

Tameside College's Santa Run

Students at Tameside College raised £150 this year’s Toy Appeal with a ‘Santa run’ fundraising event.

Public services and sports students ran a total of three kilometres around the college’s Beaufort Road campus, raising money for the annual appeal. 

The money raised by students was used to purchase a wide range of gifts, which were donated to the appeal, with a focus on 16 to 18-year-olds and teenagers.

Andrew Dixon, public services teacher at Tameside College, said: “I am very proud of my students for taking part in this event. Even though the weather wasn’t on our side at the time and it was quite a distance, they all completed the run.

“It is a good feeling knowing that the money they have raised will go towards helping young people of a similar age, who aren’t as fortunate. Well done to them all.”

More festive cheer than ever

A Tameside packaging company brought Christmas cheer to the children of Tameside by collecting £1,500 worth of toys for the Tameside Toy Appeal.

Ampulla Ltd, based on Halton Street, Hyde, collect for the appeal each year, but this year have gone bigger than ever, collecting the huge amount.

Denise Miller, director at Ampulla Packaging, said that it was important to give back to the community after such a challenging year.

She said: “2021 has been a challenging year for so many people. At Ampulla we champion the local community and look to give back any way we can. The Tameside Toy Appeal is something we plan for throughout the year as we work to do our bit in our local community.

“Our staff are the driving force behind the donations, and we are thankful that by working together we can bring some of the most disadvantaged children in Tameside a little joy at Christmas.

“Merry Christmas to everyone and we would like to extend a special thanks to the Tameside Toy Appeal for the amazing work they do.”

All smiles thanks to donations

Remembrance Community Funeral Services in Hattersley had a huge volume of toys donated for this year’s appeal.

A company called GB Recruitment also kindly donated two £250 Segways for the children of Tameside to the large quantity of donations.

Funeral director Stacey Booth said: “As we approach Christmas we feel it is important to share a positive message with these kind toy donations.

“We hope that this puts a smile on all of children’s faces.”

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