Children helpers from our partner charity Community Links visited Newham Council’s offices last week to meet Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales.

he Mayor donated to the Recorder and Links’ Toy Appeal, currently in its 36th year that aims to raise 14,000 toys to give out to 4,000 underprivileged children in the borough who may not have any presents on Christmas morning without your help.

The Mayor weclomed Paula Blake from Community Links and a group of youngsters, into Building 1000, the council’s Dockside offices to collect the toys on behalf of the appeal.

Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: “I am delighted to be able to support this very important appeal. I am sure it will make a lot of young people very happy. Every child matters, especially at Christmas.

“This year the appeal is experiencing an unprecedented level of genuine need and hardship. I encourage individuals and businesses across the borough to try to do their bit to support it in whatever way they can, either by donating toys or money or holding a fundraising event.”

The toys were collected from the Mayor at Newham Council’s Newham Dockside offices by youngsters from an after-school playgroup at Community Links Rokeby Hub in Stratford. Other donations came from the council’s chief executive Kim Bromley-Derry and Smyths, the toy shop in Gallions Reach, Beckton.

Newham Town Hall in Barking Road, East Ham, the Old Town Hall in Broadway, Stratford, and all of the borough’s libraries are acting as drop-off points during opening hours for people who may wish to donate new toys to the appeal.

OTHER DROP OFF POINTS

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 Bartholomew’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.

n 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, or 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.