The Angel Trust in Bishop Auckland is once again helping the less fortunate with its fourth annual toy appeal.

Amongst a cost-of-living crisis and a pandemic, the charity hopes to take the strain off struggling families by acting as Santa’s helpers.

The local community of Bishop Auckland and from across County Durham has responded to the charity’s call-out for toys.

The Trust has again been overwhelmed by the generosity of the general public, but organisers have said two things that they are short of this year are chocolate and items for new-born babies.

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Clair McGregor, founder of The Angel Trust, said: “We’re always shocked at just how much is donated. Any child receives a metre-high giftbag and it’s all personal to each child, not generic.

“We receive referrals for families in need, so that might be from midwives, and they’ll tell us ‘10-year-old boy would like a football, shinpads and some sweets’ and we will do our best to put together a bag specific to those requests.”

Donations started coming in a month ago and this year the Trust has taken over an empty shop on Newgate Street, in Bishop Auckland, where donations are dropped off.

People can come into the shop and write down on a gift tag what their child wants, for example, a pair of fairy wings, and then those wanting to donate can use those suggestions.

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All toys must be new, for hygiene purposes and so far the Trust has been inundated with donations.

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Parents can also refer their own child/children to this appeal by going on the website via angeltrust.co.uk or by clicking here.

The Trust does require each family referring itself to reach certain criteria, often in the form of proof of receipt of Universal Credit.

The Northern Echo: Senior fundraiser at Angel Trust in Bishop Auckland Julie Errington pictured with the Angel Trust Toy Appeal tree Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTSenior fundraiser at Angel Trust in Bishop Auckland Julie Errington pictured with the Angel Trust Toy Appeal tree Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT (Image: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The deadline for donations is December 18 and the Trust also uses some donations to give to local hospices, children’s wards in hospitals, women’s refuges and children’s homes.

Clair added: “We do, as a charity, donate a lot of toys but it is the community doing this and then its volunteers who go out and deliver all these. It’s phenomenal to see all the effort that’s gone in. It’s overwhelming and makes me proud every day.”

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