Tring Radio teams up with Aylesbury Town Council and community radio stations to give over 4,000 gifts this Christmas

There will be more than 4,000 extra smiles this Christmas thanks to the kindness of communities across Herts and Bucks
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Tring Radio, Red Kite Radio, Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio and Aylesbury Town Council teamed up to give 4,202 gifts to those in need this Christmas.

The council worked in partnership with the community radio stations to collect as many brand-new donated toys as possible for local charities and organisation to provide a gift to children in need this Christmas.

Donation stations were dotted all around the Herts and Bucks, from Tring to Thame and from Amersham to Aylesbury.

The toys were picked up from G Grace and Son, prior to the latest tier restrictions, in a special Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal (C) Adam Hollier PhotographyThe toys were picked up from G Grace and Son, prior to the latest tier restrictions, in a special Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal (C) Adam Hollier Photography
The toys were picked up from G Grace and Son, prior to the latest tier restrictions, in a special Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal (C) Adam Hollier Photography

The Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal toy total reached 4,202 toys.

From art and craft kits, puzzles, games and sensory toys – charities and organisations were given three times the amount they had hoped for due to local communities coming together after a challenging year.

All toys were picked up from the 31 donation stations, prior to the latest tier restrictions, in a special Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal van courtesy of Perrys, before they were sorted by voluntary elves and then quarantined for a COVID-safe period for in time for collection.

Rachel and Tim, founders of Tring Radio, wanted to support the local community, so when they were asked to carry on the Christmas toy appeal, they said yes straight away.

The toys were picked up from G Grace and Son, prior to the latest tier restrictions (C) Adam Hollier PhotographyThe toys were picked up from G Grace and Son, prior to the latest tier restrictions (C) Adam Hollier Photography
The toys were picked up from G Grace and Son, prior to the latest tier restrictions (C) Adam Hollier Photography

Rachel said: "Tim and I set up Tring Radio with exactly this kind of thing in mind - we want to be there to support the community across Herts and Bucks as much as we can.

"The response has been amazing and in Tring, G Grace and Son on the High Street have been inundated with very generous donations and at last count had collected 14 bags of toys.

"Aylesbury Town Council did a phenomenal job of organising the sorting and Tring Radio sent some volunteers to help!"

The charities and local organisations who will benefit from the donations are Florence Nightingale Children’s Team Florrie’s, CHAT Children’s Respite, Young Carers Bucks, The Pepper Foundation, Go Holiday Club Southcourt, Paediatrics Bucks NHS Trust – Stoke Mandeville, MPS Society and Roman Park Community Trust.

The toys were picked up from G Grace and Son, prior to the latest tier restrictions, in a special Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal (C) Adam Hollier PhotographyThe toys were picked up from G Grace and Son, prior to the latest tier restrictions, in a special Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal (C) Adam Hollier Photography
The toys were picked up from G Grace and Son, prior to the latest tier restrictions, in a special Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal (C) Adam Hollier Photography

Due to the overwhelming response to the appeal Griffin Place Aylesbury, Life Link, Bucks Activity Project – Action For Children and Vineyard Church Storehouse Aylesbury will also benefit from toy donations.

Aylesbury Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Smith, said: “We are completely blown away by the response we had to the Community Radio Christmas Toy Box Appeal and are very glad to be spreading festive cheer across Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

"It has been a challenging year for many groups and organisations so we are sure these toys that have been generously donated will make a huge difference to the children and their families this year.

“Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered and helped us spread the word.

"A special thank you also to Tring Radio, Red Kite Radio and Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio for their support.”