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NOTTINGHAM LOCALS DEMONSTRATE TRUE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT TO HELP HUNDREDS IN NEED

NOTTINGHAM LOCALS DEMONSTRATE TRUE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT TO HELP HUNDREDS IN NEED

Nottingham businesses and residents have come together to help those in need this festive season, donating over £7,000 and more than 200 food and gift parcels via city charity Switch Up.

A December launch by ice skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean led to a fantastic initial push in December to ensure families and those most vulnerable have supplies, support, and some gifts under the tree. Donations will also help the charity as it massively extends its scope and services to provide mental health support and counselling, as well as food parcels. The appeal will now continue into January 2022.

The appeal has already seen some amazing fundraising feats and festive generosity. Ryan O’Donnell, director at Lindleys Autocentres, will complete an impressive running challenge on Christmas Day. Running four miles, every four hours for 48 hours, Ryan is on track to raise £3,000. Stacks of brand-new children’s books were donated through a partnership with Nottingham City of Literature and hundreds of hygiene products were donated by customers of 200 Degrees Coffee.

Marcellus Baz BEM, founder and chief executive of Switch Up CIC and Nottingham School of Boxing, said:

“Christmas can be a time of immense pressure for vulnerable people and their families. Energy prices are rising, employment has not recovered, and cuts to Universal Credit continue to hit people’s mental health hard.

“No one should have to choose between heating or eating but that’s what we are seeing – we’re so appreciative of all the businesses and individuals that have stepped up to provide items as well as funding that allows us to offer this additional help to those in need.”

As well as kind contributions from businesses including Landsmiths Solicitors and Cartwright Communications, major corporate donations have been received from Oakfield Construction, CPW, and Marketing Nottingham, among others. It has also taken a dedicated team of volunteers to sort, pack, and distribute all items.

Switch Up plays a vital role in improving the lives of young people in Nottingham, providing mental health and employment support, plus activity classes through the Nottingham School of Boxing - helping young people to get into work and turn away from a life of crime.

In addition to individual families, parcels were delivered to Asquith Primary (Mansfield), Dalestorth Primary (Sutton in Ashfield), Intake Farm Primary (Mansfield), Mansfield Primary, Seely Primary, South Wilford Primary.

Donations can be made via JustGiving throughout January. For more information on Switch Up and the Nottingham School of Boxing, visit https://www.marcellusbaz.co.uk.


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