Caring Council staff, councillors and local people rally round to help families have a better Christmas

County Council employees and councillors have joined forces with local residents to support disadvantaged families who will have little or nothing under the tree on Christmas morning.

Through December, Council employees and councillors donated and amassed hundreds of Christmas presents for local disadvantaged children. The presents will be handed over to the children and young people’s families by members of the Council’s social care teams in time for Christmas. The Christmas present appeal was led by Paul Irwin, Deputy Cabinet Member for Transportation.

The Council’s present appeal was in addition to a large number of presents collected and donated by the members of Aylesbury’s Salvation Army Church, as well as presents donated by local people across the county.

Paul said: “I am yet again staggered and very moved by the outstanding generosity and kindness shown by everyone involved. We have received hundreds of donated presents from our brilliant employees and we are totally overwhelmed by the response.

“I found it a very humbling experience meeting the social workers when they sorted through the presents. They told me about where the presents were going and how they would be used, and they were so excited themselves knowing they could take presents to people who would otherwise have nothing. Our social workers have a very hard job and do it brilliantly – on behalf of the County Council I would like to say thank you and wish them all a happy Christmas.

“We are also extremely grateful to the Aylesbury Salvation Army Church whose members have yet again shown their generosity of spirit by collecting a large number of presents for our disadvantaged children.

“It is so heartening to know that amongst all the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparation so many people are taking time to think of others less fortunate. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who donated a present – each present will make a vulnerable child’s Christmas brighter.”