Newham Recorder and Community Links Christmas Toy Appeal latest

We have kicked off the appeal at the heart of the Newham community this week, and more than 500 toys have come in from generous people locally.

And though we can be happy that the annual Community Links and Newham Recorder Christmas Toy Appeal is up and running, that is only a drop in the Ocean for what we must achieve.

We need 30 times that amount to reach out target of 15,000 toys by Christmas Eve if no child is to go without. We need another 14,500 gifts of love.

Loads of events are being planned and you can find details of them on this page and on our website www.newhamrecorder.co.uk in the special toy appeal section. This is the 35th year of the appeal, and one which will be out toughest challenge.

We are aiming to provide gifts for provided gifts for over 3,500 children to open on Christmas morning. Hopefully over 1,000 children will have a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas party, and 1,500 children had the opportunity of experiencing a pantomime.

And another 70 families at risk and 50 senior citizens living alone had a seasonal food hamper to help them through Christmas.

n Christmas Trees are being sold by ouir partners Links to raise funds at Queens Market on November 30, December 1 , December 8 and 9 and December 15 and 16 and also at the Newham City Farm Funday.

You can also order them on line for the first time. Go to www.communitychristmastrees.co.uk

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*There is a network of drop-off points all over

Newham where you can leave toys. These are

at:

NEWHAM RECORDER: The reception desk, Media House, 539, High Road, Ilford, 9am to 5.30pm weekdays.

COMMUNITY LINKS: Main Centre, Barking Road, Canning Town, 9am to 6pm weekdays.

COMMUNITY LINKS CENTRAL PARK CENTRE: 2 Central Park Road, East Ham, during opening hours.

COMMUNITY LINKS ASTA CENTRE: Camel Road, Silvertown, 9am to 6pm weekdays.

COMMUNITY LINKS ROKEBY CENTRE: Rokeby Street, Stratford, 9am to 6pm weekdays.

NEWHAM CITY FARM, Stansfeld Road, Beckton, during opening hours.

ASDA SUPERSTORE: Tollgate Road, Beckton, during store opening hours.

THE LORD STANLEY PUB: St. Mary’s Road, Plaistow, during opening hours.

THEATRE ROYAL, STRATFORD: Gerry Raffles Square, during opening hours.

LORD LISTER HEALTH CENTRE: Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, 9am to 5pm weekdays.

NEWHAM BOOKSHOP: Barking Road, Upton Park, 9.30am to 5pm, during opening hours.

ST MARK’S CHURCH AND CENTRE: Lorne Road, Forest Gate, during centre opening hours.

WEST HAM UNITED SUPPORTERS CLUB: Castle Street, Upton Park, during opening hours.

ST BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH AND CENTRE: Barking Road/ St Bartholmew’s , East Ham, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

EAST HAM TOWN HALL: Barking Road, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

THE OLD TOWN HALL: Stratford Broadway, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

BECKTON GLOBE LIBRARY: Kingsford Way, Beckton, during opening hours.

CANNING TOWN LIBRARY: Barking Road, Canning Gown, during opening hours.

CUSTOM HOUSE LIBRARY: Prince Regent Lane, Custom House, during opening hours.

EAST HAM LIBRARY:High Street South, East Ham, during opening hours.

LIBRARY AND LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE AT THE GATE: Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, during opening hours.

GREEN STREET LIBRARY: Green Street, Upton Park, during opening hours.

MANOR PARK LIBRARY: Romford Road, Manor Park, during opening hours.

NORTH WOOLWICH LIBRARY: Pier Parade, North Woolwich, during opening hours.

NEWHAM ARCHIVES AND LOCAL STUDIES LIBRARY: The Grove, Stratford during opening hours.

PLAISTOW LIBRARY: North Street, Plaistow during opening hours.

STRATFORD LIBRARY: 3 The Grove, Stratford during opening hours.

PLAISTOW PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE: Queens Road West, Plaistow, during opening hours.

BARCHESTER, WESTGATE HOUSE NURSING

HOME: Romford Road, Forest Gate, during opening hours.

* We can arrange for toys to be collected if you wish to make a donation but are

housebound. Contact Kevin Jenkins, Paula Blake or reception at Community Links on

(020) 7473 2270. Alternatively, call Melissa York, Kay Atwal, Pat Coughtrey, Else Kvist on the Recorder’s Toy Appeal Desk on (020) 8478 4444. You can also make a cash donation. Send any cheques to Community Links and Newham Recorder Christmas Toy Appeal, Newham Recorder, 539, High Road, Ilford, Essex, IG11UD We promise that every penny given will be spent on brand new toys for needy youngsters in our community. Please make any cheques payable to Community Links.

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Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of the appeal that is at the heart of life in Newham.

Come on down and join the quiz event of the year on December 6.

The quiz night competition is a chance to raise money for the Community Links and Newham Recorder

Christmas Toy Appeal.

Our annual challenge quiz will be held from 7.30pm.

Participants can arrive from 7pm at Links’ base in Barking Road, Canning Town.

It always provides tension, drama and above all else, fun. The Recorder’s own team will be there, as teams battle it out for the Maureen Allen memorial trophy.

Tables of eight cost just �75, which will enable one family of disadvantaged children to have a really special Christmas.

As well as the chance to hold the trophy for

a year, each member of the winning team will get a bottle of wine. There are also prizes for the last placed teams.

To enter call (020) 7473 2270 or email Kevin.jenkins@community-links.org

Early booking is recommended.

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Editor Colin Grainger will make his annual dip for charity, as he has done since 1976, swimming 50 lengths at Becontree Leisure Centre.

Any donation is welcome. If you want to sponsor Colin or send a donation, send it to: Melissa York, Newsroom, Newham Recorder Editorial, Media House, 539, High Road, Ilford,Essex, IG1 1UD. Cheques payable to Community Links.

You can stage a sponsored event for the appeal to raise cash. Editor Colin Grainger

will make his annual dip for charity, as he has done since 1976, swimming 50 lengths at Becontree Leisure Centre.

Any donation is welcome. If you want to sponsor Colin or send a donation, send it to: Melissa York, Newsroom, Newham Recorder Editorial, Media House, 539, High Road, Ilford,Essex, IG1 1UD. Cheques should be made payable to Community Links please.

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Newham charity Community Links are staging a Christmas lunch to raise funds for

the appeal and buy new toys.

Places for the meal on Thursday December 13 have to be booked.

A meal of soup of the day or melon, turkey main course, sausages, ham, roast potatoes and sprouts and carrots, parsnips, and stuffing or a vegetarian alternative will be followed by mince pies or custard and trifle or fruit salad costs just �9, or �65 for a table of eight. Veggie options are available.

The meals are served between noon and 3pm, with last orders at 2.15pm.

This year the meal with be prepared and cooked by Jamie‘s Ministry of Food in Stratford. There will also be live entertaiment frokm the D’Ukes Ukulele Band, playing traditional Christmas songs and there will be a giant raffle

Phone (020) 7473 9685 or (020) 7473 2270 or e-mail kevin.jenkins@community-links.org for details.

If you want to stage an event or raise money for the appeal or collect toys, call (020) 7473 2270.

If you want to do your own sponsored swim, forms are available from Links main

office in Canning Town, or from the Recorder’s office in High Road, Ilford. If you want to find out more about the appeal or Links, tour their offices to find out about their fantastic work or offer help, call the same numbers.

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Care group, Community Links are staging a Christmas on the Farm event at

Newham City Farm, Stansfeld Road, Beckton on December 15 and 16.

The event raises money for the farm, run by Links and funds for toys for the annual

Toy Appeal staged by Links and the Recorder.

It includes a nativity scene with attractions such as Father Christmas, Newham’s tallest Christmas tree, Nativity plays, workshops, refreshments, a Christmas farm

trail (with a winning prize for the children who complete) and of course carol

singing! n From noon until 4pm, there is table space available for

craft and seasonal products. Anyone interested, contact Kevin Jenkins

Newham charity Community Links have gone into the Christmas tree business...to help fund their day to day operations in the community.

Their social enterprise unit have launched the new development this year and are asking businesses if they would consider getting their trees for their office premises from Links.Co-founder and senior advisor Kevin Jenkins said:

“The trees are from ethnical we can guarantee that they are top quality and will hold their needles throughout the festive period and will only

have been cut a few days before they are delivered. Delivery will be made on a day

of people’s choice.”

They will also be sold at Queens Market on November 30, December 1 , December 8 and 9 and December 15 and 16 and also at the Newham City Farm Funday.

You can also order them on line for the first time. Go to www.communitychristmastrees.co.uk

Newham charity Community Links and the Newham Recorder send out a special

alert this week...we need to find Santas for our toy appeal!

Next month, we launch our Christmas Appeal for needy

children. An ability to get on well with children is essential. Full training and support is given and suit and beard! There will be an enhanced CRB check. Contact

Kevin Jenkins on (020) 7473 2270