Monmouthshire’s residents, staff and companies have pulled out all the stops and come together in true Monmouthshire style to support the council’s Christmas Wishes appeal for 2021.

The campaign, which is organised by the Children’s Services Team, has raised over £5,000 and will go towards gifting around 300 vulnerable children and young people in the county with either a voucher or a gift this Christmas. For many, these gifts and vouchers will be the only gift they receive but it’s hoped the generosity of so many can help bring some festive cheer to families who need it the most.

The kind donations have come in from the Monmouthshire Building Society, local councils and councillors, King Henry VIII School and Halo Foods. A large donation was also made by the Monmouth Santa Fun Run – which saw 400 dressed up Father Christmas lookalikes descend upon the town in a flurry of fun. A number of donations have also been received by kind residents who continue to support the county’s most vulnerable.

This year, times have been particularly hard and with this support, the £5,000 raised has gone to purchasing presents, all of which are in the process of being delivered by social workers and support staff. The spirit of giving at Christmas is very much alive in Monmouthshire and the Children’s Services Team would like to extend a huge ‘thank you’ to all who showed they cared and wanted to make a difference.

Councillor Penny Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Care, Safeguarding and Health said: “It’s been another fantastic year for our Christmas Wishes campaign which really goes a long way to making this time of year special for our most vulnerable children and young people. I would like to take this opportunity, and on behalf of Children’s Social Services, to give our utmost gratitude to all those businesses, councillors, organisations and residents for the overwhelming support received. It is really appreciated during this difficult time. We wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.”