Once again, the people of Severn Trent Services and Severn Trent Searches have generously donated hundreds of Christmas presents to the KidsOut charity via two Giving Trees.
KidsOut supports children who seek refuge from domestic abuse and might typically go without Christmas presents because of their circumstances.
The Giving Trees are decorated with gift tags displaying the names of children in a refuge and what they want from Father Christmas. Instead of holding a Secret Santa, employees have chosen to buy gifts for these children. This helps ensure that vulnerable children get to open a gift on Christmas Day.
Amber Allen, Operations Manager at Severn Trent Searches, instigated the fundraising. She said:
It was such a success last Christmas that we decided to run it again but out of two sites – one in our Coventry headquarters and one in Nottingham at our Severn Trent Searches office. Judging by this year’s response, we might do it again in 2025!"
The Coventry Giving Tree
Gabriella Marshall, Administrative Assistant at Severn Trent Services, said:
“We initially asked KidsOut to supply 40 gift tags for the Coventry tree, as we didn’t want to overpromise! The tags flew off the tree, so we had to do a mad dash to reorder more. We dropped off an amazing 92 presents to our local hub!"
“We are truly amazed and deeply grateful to everyone who got involved. It has been heartwarming to see so many lovely gifts purchased."
A Nottingham hub
While the Giving Tree in Coventry is for Severn Trent Services people to donate gifts, the Giving Tree in Nottingham also serves as a hub for local organisations to bring gifts to.
Carrie Jackson, Business Support Technician at Severn Trent Searches, said:
“Staff from the local TSB, for example, have brought gifts in, as have our employees. There are dolls, soft toys, Lego, and trucks. We’ve had so many donations that we’ve had to get an extra room to store them in!”
Delivery to KidsOut
The gifts from Nottingham will be taken to the KidsOut charity in preparation for Christmas Day. Samantha Johnson from KidsOut said,
"I would like to thank you all for taking part in the KidsOut 2024 Giving Tree. All the gifts you have purchased will go to children who have fled domestic abuse and been placed into a refuge with clothes on their backs. This will bring fun and happiness back into their lives, and we cannot thank you enough!"
It’s not too late to donate
There are plenty of ways to support KidsOut all year round. Please visit their website at www.kidsout.org.uk
