The Bolton Lions Club launched its annual appeal to ensure that needy children across the borough WILL get gifts on Christmas morning with a plea to help raise £15,000.

The famous international service organisation has been running the appeal for more than 40 years and has seen the number of local families needing help at Christmas grow every year.

Last year, they helped 1,801 children, referred by 34 partner agencies locally and, as Lion John Crompton explained, this year they expect to need at least the same.

“As a basic, we are looking to raise £15,000 to source 800 toys,” he stated. “Every child aged from 0 to 11 receives a minimum of six gifts/toys and children aged 11 to17 in secondary education receive £30 gift vouchers.”

The criteria for any child being referred to the scheme is that they will receive nothing or very little at all at Christmas due to depravation, parental health issues or displacement caused by, for example, domestic abuse, trafficking or homelessness.

The Lions only accept referrals from partner agencies where professionals can provide validation, ensuring that donated gifts and vouchers go to those most in need.

And the appeal certainly makes a difference. As a spokesperson for one school helped, Plodder Lane School in Farnworth, said: “If it wasn’t for the Toy Appeal, some of our children would receive little or nothing at Christmas.”

John Crompton gave “a massive thank you” to Christine Baldwin, Asda’ Community Champion for all her support, the management of The Market Place shopping centre for providing facilities for the packing and distribution of the gifts and to builders Seddon’s for providing transport for deliveries.

“We also want to thank local businesses for agreeing to be donation venues for gifts,” he added.

The Bolton News is another valued long-term partner, supporting the appeal from its beginning. The paper’s Editor and Regional Group Editor Richard Duggan commented: “It’s sad that in 2024 we have to rely on charitable organisations like the Lions to help ensure that children can get some gifts at Christmas.

“We know that hundreds of local families rely on the appeal for help and we are, as always, very grateful for the generous support our readers offer through the appeal.”

As Dave Bagley MBE from Urban Outreach stated: “As a Charity Urban Outreach has been endeavouring to mitigate the impact of the cost of living pressures on families across the borough over the past year.

“When it comes to Christmas we turn to one of the Pillars of Christmas in Bolton, The Lions.

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“It’s important for us to understand the cost of living crisis has not been created by those in greatest need and it certainly hasn’t been created by the children. And yet it’s the children that bear the greatest burden.

“Parents have to make the choice about eating and now heating but at Christmas it’s even more important we stand alongside the children and young people. It’s in our hands to ensure that every child has something to open on Christmas Day.”

Nothing is taken out of donations for administration or other costs so if YOU would like to donate any amount, please go to

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/boltonlionsclub-christmasappeal?utm_id=1&utm_term=kawYq6mY

LIST OF DROP-OFF POINTS FOR GIFTS FOR THE BOLTON LIONS’ CHRISTMAS APPEAL:

Asda Farnworth, Brackley Street, Farnworth, BL4 9DT

Asda, Astley Bridge, Moss Bank Way, Astley Bridge, BL1 8QG

Asda, Middlebrook, Middlebrook Retail Park, Horwich, BL6 6JA

Bolton CVS, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS

Bolton FM, Bolton Market, Ashburner Street, BL1 1TQ

Bolton Garden Centre, Wigan Road, Deane, BL3 4RD

Breaking Barriers, 1st Floor, Bolton Market Place

Buchanan’s Antiques, 37 Winter Hey Lane, Horwich, BL6 7AD

Fred Hamer Funeral Home, 243-245 Tonge Moor Road, Tonge Moor, Bolton, BL2 2JG

Fred Hamer Funeral Home, 504 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, BL1 6AB

Fred Hamer Funeral Home, Gibson House, 335 St Helen's Road, Bolton, BL3 3QD

Hair Craft, 3 Derwent Road, Bolton, BL4 0QE

Hays Travel, 64 Market Street, Westhoughton, BL5 3AZ

Hays Travel, 72 Winter Hey Lane, Horwich, BL6 7NZ

Readey’s, 428 Chorley Old Road, BL1 6AG

Southfields, 19 Green Lane, Bolton, BL3 2EE

Tesco Middlebrook, Mansell Way, Horwich, BL6 6JS

The Place, Knowsley Street, Bolton, BL1 2AR

TSB, 55-59 Deansgate, Bolton, BL1 1HQ