A dedicated Midlands charity has brought festive joy to thousands of children facing hardship this Christmas, delivering a record number of presents to those who might otherwise have gone without.
Record-Breaking Festive Effort
Lifting Children's Hopes (LCH Charity) has successfully distributed more than 2,400 Christmas gifts to children, families, and schools affected by poverty across the East Midlands. The charity's volunteers, affectionately dubbed 'magic elves', have been working tirelessly in the lead-up to Christmas Day, covering Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire.
This year's campaign represents a massive scale-up from a successful trial run in the previous year, which saw 400 presents delivered. The charity reported being inundated with referrals from schools, highlighting the acute need within local communities.
Teenagers Included for the First Time
In a significant development for 2023, LCH Charity extended its support to include teenagers with dedicated festive gifts. This move addresses a recognised gap in charitable giving, as secondary-school-aged young people are often overlooked during the holiday season, despite frequently feeling the impacts of poverty most acutely.
The need for such support is starkly underlined by research from Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition. The study reveals that 29% of children in the East Midlands are living in poverty.
The Harsh Reality of Child Poverty
This statistic translates into daily struggles for families. More households than ever are relying on food banks to feed their children. Many children go without warm winter clothing or live in cold, unsafe housing. Beyond material deprivation, numerous young people face additional challenges such as bereavement, difficult home lives, or family hardship, which can mean going without even the most basic items.
Nichola Moore, CEO of LCH Charity, emphasised the profound difference a simple gesture can make. "We know that for too many children, Christmas can be a really tough time," she said. "Something as simple as a gift or a warm coat can make a world of difference."
Moore praised the community's collective effort: "Thanks to our amazing supporters, the community has come together to make sure every child feels seen, supported and special this Christmas. Every scarf, every toy, every pound donated brings a little more warmth to a child who really needs it."
The charity's final message is one of hope and continued action: "Together, we can make sure no child feels forgotten this Christmas." Donations are still being accepted via the charity's website to support their ongoing work.
