Leading homebuilder helps local charity to donate presents for vulnerable children stuck in refuge

Business and Economy, Charities

Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Thames is supporting KidsOut’s ‘Giving Tree’ initiative this Christmas.

The Giving Tree invites people to ditch Secret Santa and buy toys for children stuck in Women’s Aid Refuges instead.

However, with Covid-19 limiting the amount of people going back to the office, the Giving Tree is moving online for 2020. This year, individuals, groups, and work teams are able donate a toy for a child in refuge online via KidsOut’s new online shop, at www.kidsout.org.uk/givingtree.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes are supporting the scheme by placing banners with QR codes at its developments. This means one simple scan will take you directly to the online store where you can then donate a toy of your choice.

Alongside this, the homebuilder held a virtual quiz in which over £1,000 was raised for the charity.

Gordon Moulds, CBE DL and KidsOut Chief Executive, said: “Thanks to the generosity of thousands of individuals and hundreds of organisations, KidsOut was able to deliver over 23,000 brand-new toys to children in refuge over the 2019 Christmas period.

“We hope that the virtual Giving Tree online shop is just as popular, and we can support survivors of domestic violence at a time when our services are needed more than ever.

“We are extremely grateful for the support of Barratt and David Wilson Homes this year. Not only for their kind donation, but raising awareness at their developments is also a huge help.”

Families at refuge typically arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Receiving toys to call their own can make a massive difference to the lives of survivors of domestic violence, helping to improve their mental health and overall happiness.

Simon Francis, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Thames, said: “We are so pleased to be able to support KidsOut and the fantastic work they are doing.

“The number of people they helped last year was staggering, and we do not want to let Covid-19 stand in the way of them doing the same again this year.

“They have made the process of donating so simple with their online shop, and we hope the banners at our developments will help to encourage both our staff and residents to donate.”

For more information on how to donate a toy online, please visit www.kidsout.org.uk/givingtree or contact the KidsOut fundraising team on 01525 385 252 and givingtree@kidsout.org.uk.

For more information, call the Barratt Homes sales team on 033 3355 8500 or the David Wilson Homes sales team on 033 3355 8501. Alternatively, you can visit https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/ or https://www.dwh.co.uk/.