Help the City of London Police make this Christmas special for children and young people and take a tag from our special trees and buy a gift for a vulnerable child in the City. The Christmas trees lights will be turned on by the Lady Mayoress on Wednesday 5 December.
On Wednesday 5 December 2018, we will be launching the City of London Police ‘Give a Gift’ Christmas Tree Project alongside the City of London Corporation, Cheapside Business Alliance and Richard House Children’s Hospice.
For the third year running, we will be inviting members of the public to bring Christmas cheer into the lives of vulnerable children and young people across the Square Mile by visiting the ‘Give a Gift’ Christmas trees located in Bow Church Yard and outside of 150 Cheapside. Instead of being adorned with tinsel and baubles, these trees are decorated with tags directing you to the City of London Police website where you can sign up and ensure that every child in the City has a present to open on Christmas Day.
All you need to do is take a tag from the tree and follow the instructions. Once you have signed up on our website, you will then receive an email telling you a little bit about the recipient of your generous gift. When you have chosen your gift you have until Monday 17 December 2018 to drop it off at The City Centre.
There is also the option to donate money online to Richard House Children’s Hospice which supports children and their families in East London to lead a happy life as possible when dealing with a life-limiting health condition.
To mark the launch of the project, the Lady Mayoress will be turning on the tree lights at 5pm on Wednesday (5 December) at 150 Cheapside and members of the public are invited to attend the switch-on.
Commander Jane Gyford, from the City of London Police, said:
“I am incredibly proud that the City of London Police are part of the ‘Give a Gift’ Christmas Tree Project for its third year, alongside our partners the City of London Corporation, the Cheapside Business Alliance and Richard House Children’s Hospice.
“Christmas is a time for giving, and spending time with the ones we love but for some it can be tough, especially for those in care or in need of help and protection. If you can, please take a tag and add an extra present to your Christmas shopping list for a child in need so they have the chance to open a gift on Christmas Day.”
Claire Dumontier-Marriage, Cheapside Business Alliance Manager, said:
“I know I speak for all members of the Cheapside Business Alliance when I say how proud we are to support this great campaign for the third year in partnership with the City of London Police. I am sure that the Cheapside community will fully support this project.
“Partnership working is at the heart of how the City operates and it is great to see how the Alliance, City of London Police and the Corporation have come together to help make Christmas a special time of year for every child.”
Wendy Legeno-Bell, Community and Events Manager at Richard House, said:
“Richard House Children’s Hospice is excited to be part of the Christmas Tree Project again. Last year over £480 was raised to support children facing life-limiting conditions. This money can be used towards Christmas activity days to give families a chance to spend time together at the hospice, so they can be jolly too! We would like to thank City of London Police and Cheapside Business Alliance for their continued support.”
Andrew Carter, Director of Community & Children’s Services at the City of London Corporation, said:
“It is marvellous to see the continued generosity of local businesses and communities in supporting this project and truly enabling some of our most vulnerable and in need children to have a present at Christmas.”