Southmead Fire Station and Southmead Development Trust working together this Christmas

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Friday, 11 December 2020 09:00

This Christmas, local Southmead firefighters and staff from Southmead Development Trust are working together and asking for toy donations, to be included in family care packages, which will be distributed to the local community.

On the week commencing Monday 14 December, the Trust and station staff will be partaking in a Christmas convoy, delivering play and craft packs, as well as self-care packages to families across the local area. 

In addition to this, on Tuesday 15 December the Southmead Development Trust will be providing hot chocolate and mince pies at Southmead Adventure Playground for local children families.

The Trust are looking for donations of new or nearly new toys for children of a range of ages and these can be dropped into Southmead Fire Station or at The Greenaway Centre on Doncaster Rd, Bristol (BS10 5PY).

The firefighters of Southmead Fire Station said: “We recognise it’s been a really difficult year for so many, in light of the ongoing pandemic, but despite this we are determined to do what we can to spread festive cheer and joy wherever possible. 

“Each year we explore opportunities for working with our local community and getting involved with initiatives that helps improves the lives of those living and working in Southmead and the surrounding neighbourhoods.  This year we’ve had to think differently to make sure we can still do this, but in a way that is Covid-19 safe.

“We are therefore delighted to be working with the Southmead Development Trust and hope that we will receive some wonderful toys, that will really make a difference to a child and family this Christmas.”

Amy Kinnear, Chief Executive of Southmead Development Trust said: “‘We usually provide a Pantomime in December for the community, attended by over 800 people of all ages, it’s a favourite in the community because it’s low cost and we make fresh popcorn and Santa pops in to say hello before the performance, it’s an amazing day. We’re really sad to have to cancel it this year.

“We know that many families and individuals will be disappointed and will be facing a difficult Christmas with pressure to buy presents and food. So this year our staff and partner organisations will be creating self-care, play and craft packages to deliver to families and isolated people living in Southmead. We’re so pleased that our local Fire Station have offered to get involved this year, every act of kindness makes a difference to someone’s life’.

As the donated toys are received, firefighters at the station will be wrapping the gifts and labelling them so that they can be suitably matched with a child and/or family to receive and gifts will be being delivered all throughout December.

To find out more about the initiative and how you can help visit: www.southmead.org/