Centrale & Whitgift shopping centres are partnering with Reedham Children’s Trust to appeal for gifts in their Giving Tree initiative to ensure local, disadvantaged children receive a present in time for Christmas. 

The Giving Trees will be placed in both Centrale and The Whitgift shopping centres from 7th December until 22nd December. Each giving tree will have gift tags which indicate the age of the child as well as proposed ideas for age-appropriate gifts. Generous people of Croydon are asked to pick a tag from one the Giving Trees, buy a gift and bring it unwrapped to the Giving Tree Gift Boxes. Centrale & Whitgift, along with their charity partner Reedham Children’s Trust, will distribute the toys to make sure they get to a local, disadvantaged child in time for Christmas. Now in its 7 th year, the Giving Tree initiative has seen thousands of presents distributed to children in Croydon.

Last year, the centres received an astonishing 900+ presents, benefiting hundreds of children from Croydon. Jo Bailey, General Manager for Centrale Shopping Centre said: “Each year we are delighted with the kindness and generosity of the Croydon community. We are proud to support this initiative once again and look forward to working alongside Reedam Children’s Trust in helping those less fortunate”. As the oldest Children’s charity in Croydon, Reedham Children’s Trust help vulnerable children and young people gain their education, build stability, resilience and self-belief, so that each child and young person can fulfil their potential.

Talking about the Giving Tree appeal, Fundraising Manager, Jess Ritchie said: “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Centrale & Whitgift this Christmas. 2020 has been a very challenging year, and together we can bring a smile to the faces of so many more children with a Christmas present under the tree”. The Giving Trees will be located on the Ground Floor Mall in Centrale Shopping Centre and near the Visitor Information Desk in Whitgift Shopping Centre from 7th – 22nd December.

For further information, please visit https://www.centraleandwhitgift.co.uk/events/giving-tree