Festive appeal to readers

Mail people editor Jane Haynes

The Birmingham Mail has renewed its campaign to help tens of thousands of children living in poverty this Christmas. The newspaper’s ‘Brumwish’ drive was launched last year with the aim of getting toys, games and goodies to as many vulnerable young people as possible.

According to the End Child Poverty movement, an estimated 110,000 children in Birmingham are growing up in poverty – a huge increase on previous years.

The Mail splashed on the campaign’s launch, pictured below.

In a message to readers, Mail people editor Jane Haynes (pictured) wrote: “Where kids are born will determine how long they live. That’s the shocking reality of poverty. This Christmas Day, we want as many kids as possible to know we care about them – irrespective of faith or background.

“For the second year running, we are asking our generous readers to buy new gifts from this Amazon Wishlist. It is a way to show you care, if you can afford to. But this year we have also buddied up with our friends behind Toys4Birmingham who will identify the kids in need and ensure they are reached – whether they are in a B&B room or a tower block, a room for rent or an overcrowded house.”

There are four ways readers can help:

⦁ Buy a gift from the Brumwish Amazon wishlist here - for delivery to Edgbaston Cricket Ground by December 15th.

⦁ Donate new toys (or very nearly new), unwrapped, and deliver them to Edgbaston Cricket Ground, B5 7QU, on Saturday November 27, Friday December 3 or Saturday December 4, 11am to 3pm, where volunteers will be ready to receive them.

⦁ Drop off donations to a community collection point, being advertised locally.

⦁ Make a cash donation to help partners fill any gift gaps, especially for children with additional needs,