(L-R) Ex-Mayor Councillor Pete West, Tara Phillips from Churchill Square, Claire Noonan and Andrew Austin from Austin Rees (sponsor of Rockinghorse’s Christmas activities), Terrina Barnes from Rockinghorse and Mark Buchanan-Smith, centre director at Churchill Square, launching the Giving Tree campaign. (Picture credit: Simon Dack).
The Giving Trees have returned to Churchill Square shopping centre in Brighton during the run up to Christmas.
Shoppers can get involved by collecting gifts, which will be donated to Rockinghorse, as part of the shopping centre’s hugely popular Giving Tree campaign.
As of Monday 2 December, visitors to Churchill Square are being kindly asked to visit the three special Christmas trees which will be located on the east, west and lower central malls. Shoppers can then select a tag and purchase a recommended gift for a poorly child. The unwrapped, donated item can then to be taken to the customer services desk, along with the tag up until 5pm on Christmas Eve.
All the gifts will help Rockinghorse provide presents to children in hospital this Christmas. Donations will be taken to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (the Alex) in Brighton, where Rockinghorse is the official fundraising arm.
Terrina Barnes, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Rockinghorse, was joined by Mark Buchanan-Smith and Tara Phillips from Churchill Square for the official launch of the Giving Trees. They were joined by Ex-Mayor Councillor Pete West, and Andrew Austin and Claire Noonan from Austin Rees – the charity’s Christmas activity sponsors.
Almost 350 presents were donated last year
Mark Buchanan-Smith, centre director at Churchill Square, is confident that the public will once again show great compassion and generosity for the cause. “We were overwhelmed by the kindness of the wonderful people of Brighton, with the contribution of almost 350 toys, books, stationery and more, last year.
“It’s the season of goodwill and what better occasion for us to come together and show our gratitude to Rockinghorse for all it does to provide additional happiness to lives of poorly children in our community.
“Christmas, for many of us, is a time of joy and celebration and the Giving Tree campaign is a way of extending some festive cheer to those in less fortunate situations. We look forward to bringing smiles to many little faces throughout the city and surrounding areas.”
Terrina Barnes, corporate fundraising manager at Rockinghorse, said: “We are so very grateful to Churchill Square for choosing to support us again during this year’s Giving Tree appeal.
“Last year, the centre’s generous shoppers donated over £3,300 worth of toys and gifts for poorly children in Brighton and across Sussex. We look forward to donating many more presents to young people in hospital again to help make their Christmas that little bit better.”
To find out more about how you can support us this Christmas, please click here.
