More than a Christmas gift

The Stirling Observer Give A Gift Appeal has been helping ensure disadvantaged children and young people have a brighter Christmas for the last decade.

And charities which support them feel the gifts are about much more than giving them a toy or parcel to unwrap at Christmas.

They are about showing them that others appreciate their difficult circumstances and making them feel less isolated.

Stirling Young Carers are among those who have received donations from the appeal since it began in 2008. Young Carers co-ordinator Zoe Tetsall said:“Receiving gifts from the Give a Gift appeal lets our young carers know that their communities are thinking of the invaluable work they do for their families all year round.”

The appeal receives and distributes donations of toys and gifts for sick, disabled, needy and disadvantaged children and young people at Christmas.

Among the other charities and good causes which help to distribute the gifts donated every year are Home-Start Stirling which supports families with young children going through difficult times; Stirling Women’s Aid; Stirling Council social services; PLUS, the local organisation which provides social opportunities for children and young people with disabilities; Cornton Vale and Glenochil Family Support Hubs; and foodbank charity Start-Up Stirling.

While a number of workplaces and schools are hugely supportive of Give A Gift, individuals also answer the call in their droves, dropping gifts off at various drop-off points.

Drop-off points can be found at: STIRLING: Stirling Observer, 34 Upper Craigs (open Mon-Fri 9am-1pm); Nationwide Building Society, Port Street; Codebase Stirling, 8-10 Corn Exchange Road; BALFRON: Balfron Library; BANNOCKBURN: Bannockburn Post Office; CALLANDER: Callander Primary School;DUNBLANE: Beech Tree Cafe, 2 Beech Road; Dunblane Centre, Stirling Road.