Met Police Christmas present appeal

[autumnnightsaredrawingin]

I’ve done this for the last few years, does anyone know if it’s happening again this year? Such a lovely, easy thing to do, so really hope it is!

I hope so. I too did it last year and I agree, a lovely way to help those less fortunate. I think they launched in November last year, so maybe still a bit early for them.

I was thinking about this today. I did this for the first time last year, it's a lovely thing to do.

This is a new one to me! Can someone enlighten me? Thanks!

@SheGotBetteDavisEyes if you can't get in on the Met Police one, see if any churches local to you are doing this. I can't imagine they'd mind whether you're a regular member of the congregation.

The church we occasionally attend does this starting at the Remembrance Service (they're no fools, they get a good turn out on Remembrance Service, even before all the Scouts and Guides). They put a load of labels out on a table after the service and it'll have a number and details e.g. "10 year old boy, cerebral palsy" and a couple of weeks later there's a gift service where you take the gift in, wrapped and labeled so they know who to give it to. There's a nominal budget.

KingLooie thanks so much. That sounds like exactly the kind of thing my DC would like to be involved with as well. I'll find out more!

SheGotBetteDaviesEyes - I was told about the Met Police one from a friend who does it, I think I just googled Met Police appeal and you just fill in your details online and they match you to a child, so you'll get a message saying could you get a present for a 5 year old girl, and if you can then you just tick the box, get a gift and pop it (unwrapped I think) to your local police station.

Thanks! I will keep a look out.

Basically you choose your borough (London) and agree to buy a present (or presents- I did two- one for each of my own children). They assign you a child and give you their gender and age- budget is max £20 per child. You then buy a gift and drop it to your local police station attaching the reference number they give you, and then they check it and then will distribute it on Christmas Day. It’s such a lovely thing to do.

Last year I took my DC shopping with me and we picked the gifts out together, and I explained that they would have one less gift each this year as we were buying a present for children who needed one. They were really involved and enjoyed choosing. Good way for them to give a little back.

This is so brilliant - exactly the kind of initiative I look around for every Christmas and for some reason never stumbled on!

I'm doing something similar for a local charity and have been allocated s 16 yr old girl. Any suggestions on gifts that aren't too girly as I can't assume she will be into girly/makeup stuff. X

Rex37
It does get harder when they're older. Non girly things - how about a Lightbox or headphones or maybe a nice bag/rucksack/purse?

Thanks. I like the lightbox idea and one can never have enough purses or handbags! Cheers x

Our local police force does this for teenagers in care. I really enjoyed buying something last year.

Contact your local women's refuge - they are always grateful for gifts to make christmas a bit brighter for their residents

In case you didn’t know, the met police appeal has now started.
news.met.police.uk/news/met-launches-2018-christmas-tree-appeal-331192

And if you are want to support the Met initiative but can't drop off a present at your local cal nick, the parallel charity appeal is for www.embracecvoc.org.uk/ - supporting children whose lives have been affected by crime.

EdithWeston thanks for linking to the Embrace appeal, I hadn’t heard of it before but it’s a fantastic idea particularly if there aren’t really any appeals locally

Remember - no electrical or battery powered items! As they may put unnecessary pressure on the family/home to replace batteries.

I've just had a look at the embrace website. You can click on your area and it takes you to the Amazon wish list of the kids - it gives their age and "sexual assault" or "domestic violence". My god it's fucking heartbreaking.
Will certainly try my best to do this. Thanks to the pp who gave the link.

Does anyone know if there's anything similar to the Met Police appeal for the South West?

I've looked at embrace looking for others also. Thank you [santa]

Gosh using the ‘find your local police office’ is depressing. Very few you can walk into that I can get to easily.

Bumping for anyone feeling generous on Black Friday