Charity news

Making Christmas magical for children harmed by crime

Christmas is coming and most people are busy buying gifts to fill Santa’s sleigh. But Santa needs YOUR help. He has a special wish list of presents from children facing terrible trauma because of crimes they have experienced. These children have told us one gift they’d really like and Santa is hoping YOU can ensure they get it. Dear Santa 2021 is run by Peterborough-based charity Embrace Child Victims of Crime (Embrace CVoC) based in Copse Court, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough. Each child chooses a gift up to £35 which is made available for the public to buy on Embrace’s website. Embrace CVoC, works with children who have been harmed by crime. Their mum, dad, brother or sister might have been unlawfully killed. Some have experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse or have been traumatised by domestic abuse. Police and safeguarding professionals refer them to Embrace for support. Chief Executive of Embrace CVoC, Anne Campbell, said: “Some children we support have never had a Christmas present before. This is your chance to sprinkle some Christmas magic. When you buy a gift you’ll be giving a child a reason to smile on Christmas Day.” To buy a gift visit www.embracecvoc.org.uk/dear-santa-2021

Record-breaking eBay ‘gem’ brings in a cool £1,650 for EACH

A “hidden gem” tucked in a pile of eBay items has earned a record-breaking £1,650 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The Nikon Super CoolScan LS-9000 ED 35mm +120/220 Medium Film/Negative/Slide Scanner was donated to the charity’s shop in Market Place, Bungay. It was listed by EACH’s eBay team on 30 September. Ten days and 16 bids later, it was snapped up for an amazing £1,650. Bethany Watchman, an EACH E-Bay Sales Assistant based in Thetford, said: “This item is our highest selling item to date, beating our previous record of a mini grand piano which sold for £1,020. “It was tucked away in our pile of scheduled items from shops, so was quite the hidden gem and went for an incredible price.” The eBay team are hoping for more success in terms of selling cameras and photographic accessories. “We have a brilliant volunteer who has an expansive knowledge on this subject,” she said. “We’ve definitely seen an increase in profits because of it.” EACH cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. The charity has developed a thriving retail sector which is an essential funding stream to keep care services running. As well as increasing income and physical shops, the charity has focused on growing its online presence. It has a popular eBay store which has seen a threefold increase in income since its launch in 2016. Following the achievement of a new record turnover of £243,889 in 2019/20, the shop took income of £311,131 in 2020/21, despite being closed for three months due to lockdown. The store sells items across the world and has even sold clothes donated by EACH Ambassador Ed Sheeran.