Christmas is coming… and although traditional gatherings may be looking different this year, there are still plenty of ways you can get involved in appeals to help spread some festive cheer.

Mansfield District Council and radio station Mansfield 103.2 are among those running initiatives that need your help appeals to support those in need this Christmas.

The council has teamed up with Mansfield 103.2 to be the main sponsor for this year’s King’s Mill Hospital Toy Appeal, which relies on businesses and the community to raise money for poorly children on Ward 25.

The council has also launched a Secret Santa Appeal and bauble sponsorship scheme to enable the distribution of Christmas gifts and food to vulnerable families.

The Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, said: “The council will be doing everything it can to boost morale and encourage community togetherness.

“Our focus is on the community this year to support people who may be in real difficulty due to the pandemic. Anyone can help spread some cheer by supporting our Secret Santa Appeal or by sponsoring a bauble on the Christmas tree in the Market Place.”

Mansfield 103.2 sales director Paul Chadbourne added: “We have been working with the team at King’s Mill Hospital Children’s Ward for nine years through our annual Christmas Toy Appeal and to date we’ve managed to donate thousands of toys and games — and with the help of the local business community we’ve raised over £22,000.

“We are delighted this year to have teamed up with Mansfield District Council to take the appeal to a wider population of local children and adults in need of some joy this Christmas.”

King’s Mill Hospital Toy Appeal
People can donate to the toy appeal by popping any loose change in collection tins at Casey’s Coffee Bar, the Four Seasons Shopping Centre and Smyths Toys, Mansfield; Park Hall Financial Services and Debdale Sports Club, Mansfield Woodhouse; and Label Traders, Sutton.

Smyths Toys, on Portland Retail Park, and the Four Seasons Shopping Centre also have dedicated donation areas for toys and games.

Secret Santa Appeal
The council’s Secret Santa Appeal will run alongside the King’s Mill Hospital Toy Appeal to support other vulnerable people in the district who are struggling physically, emotionally and financially.

People are encouraged to donate via the crowdfunding page www.spacehive.com/SecretSanta to raise funds for the council to give gifts to people who may not receive much for Christmas this year. The council will support local businesses, who are also struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic, by buying gifts from them for members of the community who need them most.

The public’s generosity will help the council to buy gifts in the following categories: women, men, boys aged 0-5, boys aged 5-12, girls aged 0-5 and girls aged 5-12.
Mansfield Children’s Centre Service will help to distribute the gifts to its network of families who are most in need of receiving a festive boost. Visit its Facebook page www.facebook.com/ChildrensCentreServiceMansfield to see what help they provide all year round.

Sponsor a Bauble
The council is aiming to raise £1,000 through sponsorship of baubles on the Market Place Christmas tree to support households facing food shortages.

The money will be spent on providing Christmas dinners and other seasonal luxuries and distributed in the community via the FOOD clubs, set up by the council during the pandemic.

Monetary donations will also help soup kitchens, homelessness charities and the Gift of Christmas group to provide emergency food supplies to those in need this winter.
Visit www.spacehive.com/sponsorabauble to make a donation. Leave a festive message of support when you donate and these will be shared on the council’s social media pages.

Selected messages from those who donate £30 or more will get a thank-you message displayed on the Mansfield town centre Christmas tree.

See www.mansfield.gov.uk/christmas for more details and updates.

Festive Festival

There will be a weekend Festive Festival of virtual entertainment on the council’s Facebook page on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, including:

Christmas singalongs
Christmas craft videos
Cookery videos
Homemade gift inspiration
Get fit for St Nick! Festive fitness video
Letter to Santa writing activity.