The power of presents in Paddington this Christmas

Save yourself the annual fight with sticky tape and curling ribbon this year, by taking your Christmas presents to the British Land barge at Paddington Central. In return for a donation to the St Mary’s Children’s Fund, your gifts will be beautifully wrapped in recycled paper.

The St Mary’s Children’s Fund is a 3-year programme which aims to support departments across the hospital, caring for children and their families. The money will be used to ensure departments are welcoming and comfortable and have the specialist equipment required to treat young patients.

At Merchant Square, gifts are being collected daily during office hours for children being treated on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at St Mary’s Hospital between 3 and 17 December.  COSMIC is the dedicated charity that fundraises for this ward, which treats approximately 400 seriously ill children each year. COSMIC are calling for brand new toys, which will be handed out to children at the annual COSMIC Christmas Party. Toys need to come in original packaging or with tags, for infection control.

Finally, we are asking companies who subscribe to the Paddington Partnership Community Programme to lend a hand on Monday 10 December. A team of eager elves are needed to wrap over two hundred donated gifts for pupils at a local primary school. If you can help for an hour or two between 10am and 3pm, please contact our Community Programme Manager, Emily. There will be mince pies, festive tunes and plenty of Christmas spirit in the air.