THE LEADER has once again teamed up with the charity North Wales Superkids to help provide struggling families with presents over Christmas.

Last year kindhearted members of the public donated mountains of gifts at our offices in Mold and Wrexham.

These were handed over to the team at North Wales Superkids, who were able to divide them into bags for youngsters across the region whose families needed a little extra help over the festive period.

In total the charity, which has been running for 20 years, gave gifts to 1,616 children and young people and work has already started to prepare for this Christmas.

North Wales Superkids founder Margaret Williams MBE, from Flint, is now calling for donations as the charity prepares for the referrals from its partner agencies which work with families across the region.

“Last year we sent presents to 1,616 youngsters,” she explained, “and we try to put an average of 10 presents in each bag.

The Leader:

“That means more than 16,000 presents last year. This year my starting point needs to be 17,000 and we’re only a tiny fraction of the way there at the moment.

“Year on year we have had an increase in demand. Up to 2016 we had 19 agencies asking for our help. That doubled in 2017 because we had a lot of extra coverage on the TV and radio that year.

“Then last year we had 60 agencies asking for our help across North Wales.”

Mrs Williams said she expects the demand may well increase again this year, but it can be hard to predict.

“It’s random,” she explained.

“There’s no science to it - a family might be suddenly in a dire crisis and where they didn’t think they needed help, they could be absolutely desperate.

“Based on my experience, I would expect it to grow again this year and if there are families out there in crisis I want to make sure the children are having Christmas.”

The families the charity helps, who must be referred to the scheme by an organisation or agency which is supporting them, can come from all kinds of situations.

Mrs Williams said: “It can be benefits, a change of circumstances, perhaps someone has lost their job or been diagnosed with an illness and is not able to work.

“Every situation is different but the common denominator is they are in crisis.”

North Wales Superkids aims to provide “smiles instead of tears” for families at Christmas and provides gifts for two age groups: one to 18 and 18 to 25.

Those in the older category can be siblings of the children in the younger category, or care leavers who may not have a family network over Christmas.

Mrs Williams said: “Imaging if you were five, or seven. You’re excited because Father Christmas is coming and all of your friends have been talking about it and then guess what?

“Nothing happens on Christmas day. You’re going to be so emotionally challenged - and the parents are as well. What do they do? They can’t face the children. Christmas day is the most important day in a child’s calendar. Then when they go back to school after Christmas and people are asking what they got they have to lie - not just to their friends but to themselves.

“It is a terrible thing, especially from an early age, and it can absolutely impact on later life because if there’s a continual exclusion from the norm they reinvent themselves and have a chip on their shoulder.”

Mrs Williams said: “As soon as the referrals come in we’ll start making bags up, which could be any day.

“We did our first bag [in October]. A mum from a North Wales family had been given the news that her cancer was terminal and she had been given two weeks to live, and then just days. We provided the presents and they moved Christmas forward so they could have it. Sadly these are the situations we face and it is about helping these families.”

The toys that can be donated to the appeal must be new and unwrapped.

Mrs Williams said she would encourage donations of any kind of toy, as the bags are made up based on the interests of the child and their age. She suggested donations for those aged between 18 and 25 could also include gift sets, smellies, hair products, art and craft materials or sets, nothing alcohol related.

Gifts be left at the offices of the Leader in Mold and the North Wales Pioneer in Colwyn Bay as well as a number of other drop off points across North Wales from Monday, October 28 until Friday, December 13.

North Wales Superkids is also looking for some volunteer drivers to transport donated toys from drop-off points to their base in Mold as well as any other businesses or organisations willing to become drop off points for donations. Those interested can call 0781 437 3389.

Collection points:

  • The Leader, Mold Business Park, Wrexham Road, Mold CH7 1XY
  • North Wales Pioneer, 22 Penrhyn Road, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL29 8LG
  • Reid and Roberts Estate Agents, High Street Wrexham
  • Top Monkey Pub, Village Road, Mold
  • Blooming Gorgeous Florist, High Street, Prestatyn
  • Wilko, Mostyn Champneys Retail park, Llandudno
  • Specsavers, High Street, Mold
  • Samco Pet Spa, The Roe, St Asaph
  • The Plantation Coffee Shop, Bridge Street, Abergele
  • Bay View Shopping Centre, Colwyn Bay
  • RAK, High Street, St Asaph (Thursday 12.30-2.30)
  • Mold Town Council Offices
  • The Book Shop, High Street, Mold
  • Revolution Hair and Beauty, Griffiths Square, Mold
  • Deeside Leisure Centre
  • Clwyd Alan Offices, St Asaph Business Park
  • George and Dragon Pub, Church Street, Flint
  • Six Bells Pub, Edward Henry Street, Rhyl
  • The Village Cafe, Gadlys Lane, Bagillt
  • The Sun Verge, East Parade, Rhyl
  • The Golden Razor, High street, Rhyl
  • Voel Coaches, Dysert
  • The Coffee Bean, The Mews, Holywell
  • Costellos Floral Design, Vale Street, Denbigh
  • Hawarden High School
  • Church View Chip Shop, Bodelwyddan