More than 50 children, staff and parents arrived at Toys R Us in Brent Cross Shopping Centre early on Sunday morning on November 26, to take part in the annual Norwood Chanukah Trolley Dash. The trolley dash is funded by a committee who have raised £7000 this year, £4000 of which was spent on toys for children and young people who are supported by Norwood’s services.
Staff and children attended from the three Children & Family Centres, the Annie Lawson School for children with special educational needs, Unity, Hackney Toy Library and Buckets & Spades, the Norwood’s respite service. The teams of trolley dollies had one hour to collect games, cds, dvds, art materials, books and toys to be used as a resource at their services. Children who attended on the day were also given a £10 voucher to buy their gift of choice and had the opportunity to meet the Toys R Us mascot, Jeffrey the Giraffe, who made a special appearance on the day.
Deborah Kleinman, the head of the fundraising committee said ‘The committee have organised the Toy Sweep for nearly ten years. This year we’re really proud to have raised £6000. We fundraise all year and hold events including ladies bridge lunch, charity film screenings and ladies shopping days at Bluewater. Along with our main fundraising we bought specially adapted computers to be used by children and families at Unity.’
Leanne, is a parent who came along on the day and who attends the Rainbow Club, for young children with learning disabilities at the Kennedy Leigh Centre. She said, ‘We love bringing Skyla to the Rainbow Club. It’s a great chance for her to play and for me to talk to other mums. It was lovely to come along today and help to collect the new toys for the children to play with at the Centre.’
Sue Harris, Norwood’s Community Administrator said, ‘The Toy Sweep was a great success. It was a delight to see so many children and young people who use Norwood’s services choose gifts for themselves and to see all these wonderful new resources to be used at our centres. Norwood would like to thank the committee for all their fundraising and Toys R Us for inviting us to the store for our Chanukah Trolley Dash.’
For more information or for photos contact Naomi Creeger, PR Manager on naomi.creeger@norwood.org.uk or on 020 8420 6900.
