Help make it Christmas to remember for city’s care leavers

People are being invited to support a festive appeal to make it another Christmas to remember for the city’s young care leavers.

The City of Wolverhampton Council’s Reach Leaving Care Team has launched its annual Amazon Wish List and is inviting people to make a donation to help buy much-needed Christmas gifts for care leavers.

The Reach Leaving Care Team supports over 400 young people across the city and wants to make sure each and every young person has a gift from the council, their Corporate Parent, on Christmas Day.

The Amazon Wish List has been developed in conjunction with care leavers and includes a range of gifts, from chocolates to wellbeing gift sets, for people to choose from.

To support the appeal, please visit www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2AL2K94TCHWPV and purchase the item that you, your team or organisation wish to donate. The Reach Leaving Care Team will then wrap them up and deliver them to the young people in time for Christmas.

Alongside the Amazon Wish List, the Reach Leaving Care Team will also be hosting a collection point where people can physically donate much requested items. Young people would be especially grateful for donations of toiletries for teenagers and adults, pens and journals, hats, scarves and gloves for teenagers and adults, charging cables (USB/USC) and power banks, blankets, chocolates and biscuits.

Donations can be made at The Oasis Hub, 73-75 Willenhall Road, WV1 2HW, every Thursday between 1pm and 6pm until 12 December.

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “Every year we work with colleagues, the public and partners to provide, as their Corporate Parent, our care leavers with something special at Christmas.

"We know that times are tough, and that the cost-of-living crisis is leaving people with less disposable income than they may like but, if you are able to buy a gift from the wish list, or donate something physically, I know it will be greatly appreciated – not just by the Reach Leaving Care Team but of course by the young people themselves."