This year there will be families who will have to make the difficult decision between heating their home, buying food and essential items, or giving a gift to their children.
The Chilton Mayor’s Charity is raising funds to keep the magic alive by ensuring that every child and young person in Chilton has a gift to open on Christmas morning.
Mayor Cllrs Sue Reece and Deputy Mayor Pearl Malpas, along with fellow council members are asking for your help to provide as may gifts as possible.
We can only accept new gifts for health and safety reasons. Suggested gifts (based on recommendations from the national toy appeal) include:
0-3 Years: dolls, teddy bears, cot mobiles, rattles, activity boards, musical instruments, shape sorters, props for make-believe, bath toys and puzzles
3-5 years: dolls, action figures, educational games and toys, active games, toy vehicles, art supplies and puzzles
5-9 years: educational games and toys, stationery, books, sports equipment, remote control cars, building sets, board games and magic sets
9-12 years: board games, stationery, books, hair accessories, model kits, sports equipment
13-16 years: books, make-up, electrical items such as hair dryers and straighteners, headphones, power banks, toiletries, hair accessories and gift vouchers
Batteries can be expensive, so if your gift requires them, please to try to provide them by taping onto the side of the box.
We would also ask if you to refrain from buying edible items (other than selection boxes) and please not assume the family has games consorts, CD or specific equipment required to use any gifts.
Please do not wrap the gifts. The gifts will be distributed to families with a supply of wrapping paper so they can wrap, label and place under the tree.
You can either purchase a gift of your choice or donate funds to the Chilton Toy Appeal either in person at Hutton House on via the Just Giving Page www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chilton-mayor-charity2025-26/
All gifts and donations must be received by Monday 1st December 2025 so that the town council can purchase and deliver with packs of wrapping paper before 12th December 2025.
To confidentially refer a child or children please contact Joanne.Dickinson[@]chiltondurham-tc[.]gov[.]uk with your name, contact details, approximate number age, gender of children requiring gifts and she will be in touch for further information.
Please note the children must live within the Chilton town boundary.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
