Mayor helps launch Christmas gifts appeal

He visited the studio of 102.4FM Radio Hartlepool, the town’s community radio station, which is again working with Hartlepool Borough Council to bring festive cheer into the lives of hard-pressed local families.

The community radio station collects new, unwrapped gifts and cash donations and passes them on to Council staff working with local children and families.

The Gifts for Christmas appeal, which is now in its 10th year, was launched on-air during the Breakfast Show presented by Jason Anderson, the station’s Managing Director.

Hartlepool Mayor Councillor Paul Beck with Jason Anderson (centre) and Lee Wilmot from Radio Hartlepool

Councillor Beck said: “I am delighted to be supporting this very worthy cause and I would urge as many people as possible to make a donation of a gift or money – no matter how small or large.

“Let’s bring a smile to the faces of local children for whom Christmas might otherwise be far from happy.”

Jason Anderson, Managing Director of Radio Hartlepool, said: “We are so grateful for the support of the Mayor and the wider Council as we try to bring some Christmas cheer into the lives of hard-pressed local families.”

“I know from experience how generous Hartlepool people can be and I’m confident that we will have another great response to our appeal.

“All we are asking is that gifts should be brand new and suitable for a boy or a girl up to the age of 16.”

All cash donations should be taken to Radio Hartlepool in York Road while gifts can be dropped off at either the station or at the reception area of Hartlepool Civic Centre.