We can all agree that 2020 has been a tough year. But for some families, it has been especially difficult - financially and emotionally.

If like us, you’re shocked that 39 per cent of children in poverty will not receive Christmas presents this year, read on to find out what you can do to help.

Child poverty charity London

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s the importance of community. For this reason, we decided to support a child poverty charity in London this Christmas. After all, Munchy Play is located in the capital and our kids’ plates are manufactured in the UK.

Even thought London is a wealthy city, it also has one of the worst records among European capitals for childhood poverty. The Childhood Trust tell us that 700,000 children in London live in poverty. That’s four in ten of the UK’s children.

What is The Childhood Trust?

The Childhood Trust is a wonderful charity that works tirelessly to alleviate the impact of poverty for children living in London. As a grant-making charity, they match donations to fund projects and initiatives on a grassroots level. As of 2013, they raised an incredible £14.8 million, helping over 150 London-based charities, and more than 180,000 children in the capital. That’s quite something.

Christmas charity ideas

This year will be especially difficult for charities. Most are unable to accept physical gift donations from the public, due to the global pandemic and restrictions around it. As a result, they rely on the generosity of your donations.

For 2020, The Childhood Trust has teamed up with The Met Police Christmas Tree Appeal, providing presents for children living in poverty in the capital, who would otherwise receive no gifts at all.

The virtual appeal is NOW LIVE and invites the public to buy a gift for a child in poverty, delivered on your behalf in time for Christmas.

Here’s how you can get involved

You can either financially donate to the Childhood Trust, or visit their website here, to buy a gift of your choice for a child this Christmas.

There’s a pre-selected gift list, ranging from newborn babies through to 17-year old children, categorised by gender and age.

You have until 16 December 2020 to buy a gift, with all further financial donations invested in presents for children. Met officers and colleagues from local authorities will deliver the gifts to children across all London boroughs, in time for the big day. This extends to children cared for by foster parents, in residential care homes, refuges, children in hospitals and those in low-income families.

Sophia Procter, CEO and founder of Munchy Play, said: “London is my home, so I know how far-reaching childhood poverty is in the capital. As a parent, it just breaks your heart to think that any child could go without a single gift on Christmas Day, it’s unthinkable.

"However, the Childhood Trust is doing an incredible job to make sure that doesn’t happen. It's simple and easy to donate a gift online and is a wonderful gesture at this difficult time.

"We are also looking forward to donating some of our kids' plates to the charity in time for Christmas. However, the public are reminded to make donations online only this year."

To learn more about The Childhood Trust, please visit: https://www.childhoodtrust.org.uk and follow them on social media @childhoodtrust

This year The Childhood Trust is asking for virtual gift donations online from the public.

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