Snow and ice badly affect Christmas fundraising

23 December 2010

On average Action for Children holds over 70 separate fundraising initiatives throughout December however around 40 events have had to be cancelled this year due to the adverse weather conditions plaguing the country.

This has led to a £50,000 decline in fundraising income, money that is key to the child neglect appeal which aims to raise vital funds to help deliver services to support vulnerable children and young people.

Click here to help us make up the shortfall in funds - thank you!

Action for Children fundraiser, Christine Gibb, has organised carol singing in her town of Kingston Upon Thames for 40 years. However, the big freeze forced her to cancel this week, for the first time. Christine explained, "I've finally given in, beaten by the snow and ice! The carol singing is a major annual event for us, and means our community can support vulnerable and neglected children who really need our help. We're heartbroken that we've had to reduce our support for the charity this year."

Andy Harris, Director of Fundraising at Action for Children said, "The arctic conditions have dealt a damaging blow to the fundraising support that Action for Children had hoped to benefit from this winter. We've seen all sorts of events being cancelled, or running with low attendance, and donations in public places have fallen. People are staying at home, but the most vulnerable are facing the greatest levels of hardship.

"Our child neglect appeal is the real victim here, and we are urgently calling on the public to consider donating online. I strongly urge anyone who wishes to support the UK's most vulnerable and neglected children to visit Action for Children's website this Christmas to make a donation. It's easy to make an online donation, by visiting www.actionforchildren.org.uk/donate.

"Most of all, however, we would like to say a huge thank you to all our supporters. It really shows how seemingly small local events make a huge difference in helping us to turn around the lives of the UK's most vulnerable and neglected children."