Needy families are set to benefit after generous nursery pupils presented Norwood’s Kennedy Leigh Children & Family Centre with dozens of toys, books and games. A group of children from Kerem House Nursery and School helped deliver more than 70 presents to the Centre in Hendon on Thursday afternoon.
The school and wider community collected them as part of a general gift appeal organised by Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue.
During their visit, the youngsters were given a VIP tour of the Centre’s nursery and playground, where they got the chance to try out some of the specially adapted equipment for children with disabilities.
Development Manager Hilary Rosen then issued a heartfelt thank you before presenting each of the gift givers with a certificate and a balloon animal.
“Norwood is very grateful,” she said. “These children have been so generous in donating their toys to other children who need them.”
Norwood’s Family Support Service will now distribute the presents to selected families. The seven nursery pupils were accompanied by their mums, some siblings, and Rabbi Anthony Knopf, the synagogue’s community director who set up the gift appeal.
The visit was organised by Tanya Haffner, 36, whose four-year-old son Eli attends the nursery.
Mrs Haffner, of Hill Top, in Hampstead Garden Suburb, said she is sure the visit will have a very positive impact on the children.
“The idea is get children into the habit of giving at an early age,” she said. “When we were asked by Rabbi Knopf about what to do with these gifts, we immediately thought of Norwood who support children with disabilities and social difficulties.”
The Kennedy Leigh Children & Family Centre is a child-focused centre based in Edgworth Close, Hendon. It houses the Pears Wing for Children, which is Norwood’s first ever centre dedicated to children. The centre is also home to the Norwood Nursery, an integrated nursery which opened last September.
