Christmas collections

How to organise an advent calendar or present collection.

Could you help organise a toy or advent calendar collection for children in hospital this Christmas?

During December thousands of children make a visit to The Alex in Brighton.

Some are just coming in for routine appointments, whilst others end up there completely unexpectedly.

But you can help make sure their visit goes well but helping us to provide advent calendars and Christmas gifts for children’s hospitals around Sussex.

Being gifted an advent calendar in the run up to December helps young people have a happy memory to take away from their hospital visit, and something to enjoy throughout December.

And every child of young person deserves a gift at Christmas time, so organising a gift collection using our special Wish Lists, really do help make a hospital visit a much happier experience.

Things to know

If you want to organise a toy or advent calendar collection this year, here are some of the things to think about:

  • Please make sure any gifts are brand new – unfortunately we are unable to accept second hand toys or gifts.
  • Please don’t wrap your gifts – this way we can match them with the right child.
  • We get lots of gifts for young children, but the children we support are aged between 0-18 years of age, so a range of gifts suitable for all ages is wonderful.
  • This year unfortunately we cannot accept deliveries to our office so we are encouraging people to drop gifts off at their local children’s hospital. Pease email us at hello@rockinghorse.org.uk to get more details on how to do this.

Gift lists

If you’re not sure the kind of gifts to collect, here’s some ideas of the kind of things that would be great for all ages:

  • Board/card games for children of all ages
  • Colouring or art related gifts suitable for 3-10 year-olds
  • Art related gifts for teenagers
  • Books for toddlers
  • Story books for aged 3+
  • Books suitable for 10-14 year-olds
  • Mini remote-control cars or vehicles
  • Deodorant/bath sets for teenagers
  • Pyjamas for children under 10
  • Disney/Peppa Pig/Bluey/Hey Duggee books or toys
  • Toy cars or farm animals toys
  • Teddies
  • Dolls
  • Stationery sets and notebooks/sketchbooks

You can also take a look at our Amazon Gift List, put together by the Play Team at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, for more ideas.

Amazon Gift List

 

Giving Trees

If you’re making a trip to Churchill Square for your Christmas shopping, you can also support us by buying a gift from their Giving Trees.

Every year the Giving Trees have a range of gifts suitable for all ages, that you can buy and then drop off at the special collection point.

These gifts are then collected and delivered to The Alex throughout December to give smiles to every child or young person visiting the hospital.

Thank you for helping us make Christmas happen for children in hospital this year.