HELP children across North Wales this Christmas was the message to councillors and businesses.

Margaret Williams MBE, founder of North Wales Superkids, gave an educational talk to local committees and companies about how they can help raise awareness of the charity.

Superkids is a charity which helps relieve the needs of children and young people up to the age of 25 who are socially and economically disadvantaged - whether through financial hardship, domestic violence, health, substance misuse or other social and economic factors.

Every year since 1999, Margaret, a former parent support worker of vulnerable families across Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham and Conwy, has appealed to residents to donate new gifts and cash to create brimming sacks for children of families living on the breadline.

She explained: “Life throws things at certain families. People suffer major illnesses, deaths or redundancy in the months leading up to Christmas. They might have to wait six weeks before income relief steps in and they obviously need this money to eat.

“It’s sad and a disgrace that food banks – and ourselves really – exist, but this is need over want. For children, the most important day of the whole year is Christmas Day. Imagine all that excitement and build-up, then waking up on Christmas morning to no presents. It’s heartbreaking for them.”

In a bid to inform councillors and businesses of her task, Margaret held a talk at her ‘grotto’ near County Hall, Mold.

She said: “I was quite surprised at the response from these organisations. I want the agencies who can help to assist us with the Toybox Appeal. I would like highlight what it is that we do, how we raise money for presents, and I want people to know who we are.”