Met Police Commissioner Launches Christmas Appeal
Children in care in Hammersmith and Fulham among those set for seasonal surprise
Children in care in Hammersmith and Fulham are among over a thousand who will get a seasonal surprise after Met Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe launched an appeal to make sure children in care across London get a special Christmas gift.
Members of the public are being urged to give a gift by collecting a tagged ribbon from a Christmas tree outside New Scotland Yard or by visiting the virtual MPS Christmas tree on the Met website.
The gifts will be for children aged from one week to 17 years and benefit those in care across the London boroughs of Lambeth, Westminster, Southwark, Camden and Hammersmith and Fulham.
These children are currently being cared for by foster parents or are in residential care homes.
This year’s appeal builds on the success of last year’s MPS Christmas wish list tree which saw 230 children benefit from the goodwill of Londoners.
Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe says: "This is a simple idea in the spirit of Christmas. A child in need can be helped by a simple gift from someone they have never met. That person gains no recognition other than knowing they have shown some care for a child that needs a little more love than most.
"I do hope people will feel able to support the Met Christmas Tree appeal."
The Commissioner was inspired to launch the appeal after seeing a similar concept in Sheffield 30 years ago, when he was a PC on the beat.
If you wish to donate a gift for this year’s Christmas appeal please take a tagged ribbon from the Christmas tree outside New Scotland Yard and follow the instructions on the tag or visit and click on the virtual MPS Christmas tree online
The suggested spend for gifts this year is no more than £20.
All of the gifts will be delivered to the children at their care homes before Christmas day.
November 22, 2013
