Cambridge Regional College students help make Christmas special for those who need it

Staff at Cambridge Regional College have been helping to make Christmas special for children in care by collecting presents for them.

The college answered a plea from Cambridgeshire County Council to help provide presents for 487 children and teenagers who might otherwise receive nothing.

Staff collected gifts with each student or employee choosing an unnamed boy or girl from the list and buying a special present.

The collection, organised by the college’s work-based learning department, was given an extra boost when receptionist Bethany Chapman encouraged dozens of her family to take part.

Newmarket-based online toy company Wicked Uncle also answered a call for support by donating 100 Christmas presents and 100 baskets of chocolates.

Angela Hughes, director of Work-Based Learning at the college, said it had been keen to help every child on the list.

“It is very sad to think of so many children and teenagers – from babies to 17-year-olds – facing such a bleak Christmas,” she said.

“We wanted to pull out all the stops to collect presents for all 487 children on the list who would otherwise have nothing on Christmas Day.

“It was heart-warming to receive such a great response from staff and their families and we are very grateful to Wicked Uncle and the staff at Breckland for such generous donations.”