Local families in need receive Christmas presents following collections by our firefighters

Firefighters at Bath, Southmead and Weston-Super-Mare collected new or nearly new toys, for children that need them most, which were delivered to local charities and distributed or given to families directly. Ahead of donating the gifts, crews spent hours making sure the toys were clean and in good condition before wrapping and labelling.

Watch Manager at Weston, Jon Clatworthy said: “We were astounded by the response to our Christmas toy collection. Despite facing a difficult year, including the effects of the current Cost of Living Crisis, our local community in Weston-Super-Mare were extremely generous and donated a huge number of toys in support of those who need them most.

“It was our pleasure to donate the gifts to local food banks – we hope they’re well enjoyed by all those who received them. I’d also like to thank all those at Weston-Super-Mare Station that have been involved in this collection – this tremendous effort couldn’t have been achieved without them.”

Bath Green Watch gratefully received a number of toys from their local community and a local supermarket. Around 115 presents were delivered to the Lighthouse Centre in Bath which distributed the toys to a number of food banks across the city.

Crews also donated 140 brand-new toys to Royal United Hospital (RUH) Bath on Christmas Day. Firefighters, alongside hospital staff, presented children being treated in hospital over the festive period with the gifts.

The staff at Southmead Station, who have held Christmas toy collections for a number of years, were also pleased to receive over 750 toys. Crews at each of the Watches got involved with organising, wrapping and labelling the presents before distribution. They were delivered to charities The Rainbow Trust, which supports families that have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness; Greenway Centre Southmead Development Trust and The Ranch, a charity which works together to empower their local community; and a local cancer charity.

Firefighters at Weston-Super-Mare received a generous donation of toys from their local community. These toys were delivered to food banks in the town and distributed to families that need them the most.

Following the success of their Christmas collection, crews at Weston-Super-Mare will continue to receive donations of new and nearly toys. These toys will be distributed to local food banks and given to children as birthday gifts. If you have any new or nearly new toys you’d like to donate, please drop them off at Weston-Super-Mare Station.