£194,100 campaign to help 3,235 children in Yorkshire

Yorkshire Children’s Charity is appealing for help after it has received applications to support 3,235 children living in destitution - figures representing a 62 per cent increase on last year.

Charlotte Farrington, founder and chief executive of Yorkshire Children’s Charity, said: "Imagine being a child wondering why Father Christmas visits your friends but doesn't come to your house.

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"Imagine returning to school in January and listening to everyone talking about their presents when you have nothing to share. Childhood poverty takes away so much more than material possessions.

"It takes away experiences, opportunities and, all too often, a child's sense of belonging. Christmas can make those differences feel even greater.

"Behind every one of these children is a parent or carer who desperately wants to give them the Christmas they deserve but simply cannot afford to."

The charity has launched its Yorkshire Together Christmas campaign, calling on the region to raise £194,100 to help support families.

In contrast to traditional gift appeals, the charity does not rely on generic toy donations, working with schools, social workers and other professionals to ask parents and carers what their child would genuinely like.

Yorkshire Children’s Charity then purchases the specific gifts from each child’s wish list, up to the value of £60, which are delivered through trusted professionals, allowing parents to wrap and give the gifts themselves.

Charlotte added: "When you're living in poverty, so many choices are taken away from you, but just because a parent can't afford something, it doesn't mean they don't know what would make their child happy.

"We want parents to have the opportunity to choose gifts their children have actually asked for, just as any other parent would hope to do.

"No child needs to know Yorkshire Children’s Charity has played a part. As far as they're concerned, their presents have come from their parents or Father Christmas and that's exactly how we want it."

The Yorkshire Together campaign is calling on individuals, families, communities and businesses to help ensure no child is left out this Christmas.

A donation of £60 will fund a full wish list for one child, but smaller contributions are also welcome.

Charlotte said: "We cannot change the circumstances these families find themselves in overnight, but we can make sure a child has something they've wished for to open on Christmas morning.

"No one person has to do everything, but together we can all do something."

Donations can be made at www.yorkshirechildrenscharity.org/christmas-2026/