This year PaddingtonNow are proud to be supporters of two fantastic charities that will make a direct impact on the happiness and well being of Children in Paddington.
The Met Christmas Tree Appeal 2017
The Met’s Christmas Tree Project has been an annual event since 2012, spreading its cheer across London with trees being lit up by officers outside police stations and in other public places in all of London’s 32 boroughs to ensure more children in need have a present delivered to them in time for Christmas Day.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick was joined by poster competition winner Lavinia Zimarino, aged 10 and from Sutton, to get the appeal underway by turning on the Christmas tree lights outside New Scotland Yard for the first time, at the Met’s new HQ.
Last years event resulted in 17,016 gifts being given to children across London and over £20,000 was donated on JustGiving by 493 supporters to go towards presents for children who might not ordinarily get one.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Christmas is a time for giving, and the Met’s Christmas Tree appeal offers a chance to make a real difference to young and vulnerable Londoners in care. I urge everyone to get involved and let these children know we are thinking of them at Christmas.”
You can take part by visiting the online virtual Met Christmas tree at www.met.police.uk/christmastree and selecting Paddington.
In addition, this year members of the public can also donate money if they are unable to buy a gift by visiting the Just Giving webpage at: www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/saferlondon/metxmastree
The gifts will be for children aged from one-week to 17-years-old and benefit those in need across all London boroughs. The children are currently being cared for by foster parents, in residential care homes, in refuges, in hospitals, or are children from low income families.
All gifts will be delivered to the children before Christmas Day.
COSMIC Home from Home Appeal
COSMIC aim to raise £600,000 to towards a £1,162,000 project to refurbish an area within the Hospital to create on-site dedicated parent accommodation for parents of the critically ill children admitted at St Mary’s Hospital. And we plan to help them.
Having a critically ill child is devastating enough, but having the extra pressure of finding and paying for accommodation in central London, or having to travel long distances every day for weeks and even months, can have a devastating effect both financially and emotionally on a family unit.
In partnership with St Mary’s Hospital (part of Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust), COSMIC have identified a ward within the Hospital that can be converted into parent accommodation for the Children’s Intensive Care unit. The accommodation will support families with children receiving life-saving treatment.
The new purpose built ‘Home from Home’ accommodation will provide 12 bedrooms, communal living areas including kitchen/dining rooms, lounges, playrooms and laundry facilities which will help to create some stability and resemblance of normal family life for parents going through one of the most difficult times in their lives.
YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP US CREATE A ‘HOME FROM HOME’ SO THAT WE CAN:
- SUPPORT OVER 500 FAMILIES OF CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREN
- PROVIDE A PLACE OF RESPITE FOR PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES
- KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER TO AID THE RECOVERY OF THEIR CHILDREN
BUY A BRICK
The most simple you can get involved is to buy a brick online and help us create our unit one brick at a time. Buy a brick here
1 Brick £10
Everyone who purchases a virtual ‘Brick’ will receive a certificate
with the name of your choice and virtual brick on our website.
1 Row £100
Everyone who purchases a virtual ‘row’ will receive a certificate
with the name of your choice and virtual row on our website.
Everyone who purchases a virtual ‘Row’ will have the opportunity
to have their chosen name acknowledged within the design of
the new building.
1 Wall £1000
Everyone who purchases a virtual ‘Brick’ will receive a certificate
with the name of your choice and virtual brick on our website.
Everyone who purchases a virtual ‘Brick’ will receive a certificate
with the name of your choice and virtual brick on our website.
Chosen name acknowledged more prominently
Disclaimer: We want to make it clear: these are not real bricks. You will
not receive or actually own a brick. But the money you donate will be
used by us to fund £1.2m towards a Home from Home unit at St Mary’s
Hospital.
