Appeal chairman Tim Hicklin predicts that if the current trend continues until the collection stops on Christmas Eve, around £80,000 will have been donated – £40,000 short of the £120,000 target.
The 2011 appeal raised £100,000, but with high rates of unemployment continuing during this year, and with the cost of living, including heating costs, increasing, this year’s appeal team have faced a big challenge in bringing in funds.
That major drop in donations has come against the backdrop of an increased number of people applying through support agencies for a hamper, and heating and toy vouchers.
Full story in Friday’s JEP
