Christmas Toy Appeal in Memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes

The "Christmas Toy Appeal in Loving Memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes" was founded in 2022, with the aim of the appeal being to purchase and donate as many toys as possible to vulnerable, underprivileged and unwell children in the local community, in hospices, refuges, hospitals, care homes, food banks, charities and generally to any children that otherwise wouldn't receive a toy or gift at Christmas, wondering what they did that was so wrong that Santa never paid them a visit again this year and sadly with the current financial climate this could be the fate of many more children in the local community this Christmas.

As in the previous 2 years, every single toy purchased through your very kind and generous donations will be donated in Arthur Labinjo-Hughes name, in Arthur's honour and in loving memory and remembrance of Arthur, with the blessing and unwavering support of Arthur’s loving Mum Olivia and his ever loving Grandma Madeleine, as heartbreakingly Arthur was tragically murdered in 2020, at just six years old, just as his little life was starting to blossom, so Arthur is spreading his awe-inspiringly, stunningly beautiful wings in heaven now.

Arthur was one of the single most loving, caring, brave, generous and thoughtful little boys to ever grace this planet and as such what greater legacy could there be then for toys to be given away in this beautiful little angels name, honour and memory, Olivia's stunningly beautiful little "Baby Bear" and "Best Friend" and Madeleine’s stunningly beautiful little "Sunny Delight", “The Boy With The Superhero Smile”.

There will be a particular focus on donating toys to children’s care homes this year, as for Arthur’s family and I, these are just some of the most forgotten children, the ones left behind to feel so unwanted, uncared for and unloved, so receiving a toy from a complete stranger at Christmas, could potentially mean the absolute world to them and show them that they are wanted, they are cared about and very much loved, which at such an early age could have a huge impact on their life and really shape their view, opinion and trust in people, their outlook on the world and hopefully shape their future for the better.

Every single penny (minus compulsory GoFundMe fees of 2.9% + £0.25 per donation) of any monetary value donated will go directly towards purchasing Christmas presents for children in need and I myself will be making a significant donation to the toy appeal, as how can I kindly ask others to donate, if I don’t donate myself.

Collectively last year due to peoples unbelievably generous donations, we were able to donate close to £2,300 worth of toys to Dunelm’s “Delivering Joy” appeal and to other local community charities supporting vulnerable children. We partnered with Dunelm 2 years ago, because they have the infrastructure and contacts in the local community, to ensure the donated toys get to the most vulnerable, underprivileged, unwell and in need children, which is absolutely critical to Arthur’s family and I, so with that in mind the following are just a brief example of some of the local charities that the toys will be donated to:

• Safe in Sussex (A charity that provides accommodation and support for those partners and children fleeing domestic abuse – toys for the children in their care who fled with nothing)

• Family Support Work (The children’s charity of Sussex who support vulnerable children and children in poverty, helping families in crisis)

• Dunelm’s “Delivering Joy” Appeal (Dunelm receive new toy donations and ensure they get to the most vulnerable, underprivileged and unwell children in the local area, in hospices, refuges, hospitals, care homes, food banks, charities etc). “Delivering Joy” is based around underprivileged and less fortunate children writing down on a tag what they would like for Christmas, which last year hit the headlines because of the heartbreaking tags received from children in need, such as a young boy asking for a biscuit for Christmas and a young girl asking for a selection box in case Santa didn’t visit

• Little Bundles Baby Bank Chichester & Arun (They supply essential items for mothers and children in need across Chichester and Arun)

Arthur loved reading, so we will incorporate “The Gruffalo” and “The Snail and the Whale” within the donations, along with Trolls memorabilia, Footballs, Build-a-Bear’s and Avenger toys, Arthur’s other favourites.

The minimum donation amount allowed by GoFundMe is £5, which in today’s cost of living crisis may not seem very much, but trust me when I say a £5 cuddly toy, pens & paper, card game, chocolates, car or doll, to a child that otherwise would receive absolutely nothing on Christmas Day, would mean the absolute world to them, so however small the donation, we will ensure this amount goes to the most deserving and worthwhile of causes in the local community.

As agreed with Arthur’s loving family, pictures of the toys purchased, full receipts and final donation pictures will be shared on the GoFundMe, to ensure complete transparency.

Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to read this GoFundMe and for allowing us to share Arthur’s story and this Christmas Toy Appeal with you and if you choose to donate or share this GoFundMe, then thank you so much for your support and for putting the "Merry" back into Christmas for so many vulnerable, underprivileged, disadvantaged and unwell children in the local community, it is so very much appreciated.

As always, all toys are donated in Arthur Labinjo-Hughes name, honour and in loving memory and remembrance of Arthur, loved, honoured and remembered, always and forever beautiful little angel, you are so very, very much loved and missed precious angel, all of our candles burn so very brightly for you, as you shone so very brightly here on earth for as long as you possibly could, the very bravest of little superheroes, thank you for simply being you, perfect in every single way, forever 6, loved always and forever, all for you beautiful little angel Arthur xxx

Arthur’s Heartbreaking Story and the Full Background to the "Christmas Toy Appeal in Loving Memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes" is outlined below (trigger warning, read with caution, upsetting content):

This stunningly beautiful little angel was Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, his loving Mum Olivia’s irreplaceably special “Baby Bear” and “Best Friend” and his ever-loving Grandma Madeleine’s “Sunny Delight”, lovingly and affectionately known as “The Boy With The Superhero Smile” by his family, because Arthur's superpower was always his stunningly beautiful smile, Arthur was the single most loving, caring, big hearted, thoughtful, selfless, infectiously happy and joyful little boy and bravest beautiful little wingless angel to ever grace this planet.

Sadly, this beautiful little angel is no longer with us, Arthur is spreading his awe-inspiringly beautiful wings in heaven now, what Arthur went through no one should ever have to go through, let alone a young defenceless child, Arthur was subjected to systematic abuse by the very people who should have been loving and caring for him, when Arthur sadly passed he had 130 separate marks and injuries on his broken little body, he was systematically beaten, starved, with what little food he was allowed being poisoned with dangerously high amounts of salt, then he was refused anything to drink after, he had all of his beloved toys and football shirts taken away, he was not allowed to sleep in a bed, he was forced to sleep face down in the front room with just a cover over him, scared and alone, most of his days, some 12+ hours a day would be him alone in the hallway facing the wall not allowed to move or talk, made to wear a thick onesie in 20+ degree heat as further punishment, whilst they ate McDonalds and ice cream in front of him, whilst he was given nothing at all, I can’t even begin to comprehend just how broken, scared and alone Arthur must have felt.

Arthur left this world feeling hungry, scared, alone, broken and unloved, whilst I far from want to dwell on this, because we only want to focus on all the amazing things that are happening in Arthur’s name, honour and in loving memory of Arthur, it would be badly remise of us not to acknowledge exactly what Arthur went through and just how so very, very brave Arthur was right up until his very last breath, hence a true real life superhero to everyone that knew and loved Arthur. It’s so, so sad that Arthur’s family will no longer get to witness all those special moments in Arthur’s life as he continued to learn, grow and shine, that they won’t be able to watch in awe at the amazing man Arthur would have become, yet despite this tragic loss, Arthur’s loving family have nothing but drive and compassion to help all other vulnerable children in need.

What happened to beautiful little Arthur cannot be in vein, child abuse cannot and will not be accepted in any form, it is on all of us to prevent it, if you see anything suspicious or have any concerns about a child, please do report it. Whilst Madeleine continues to work closely with the authorities in Birmingham and the government nationally to help prevent these tragic circumstances from ever happening again, by protecting vulnerable children through closer multi-agency collaboration, amongst other improvements that are being trialled in Birmingham, before being rolled out nationally if successful, we also initiated this “Christmas Toy Appeal in Loving Memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes” two years ago, as a further legacy for Arthur, because Arthur sadly passed without any toys around him to play or to cuddle with, so naturally it is a subject that we are very passionate about, ensuring that vulnerable children, underprivileged children in poverty, hospices, care homes and more receive a Christmas present from Santa every year, ensuring that child feels so wanted and loved as a result.

Arthur was an unbelievably selfless child, so there is no greater legacy for Arthur than a toy appeal for vulnerable children in need, as such two years ago the “Christmas Toy Appeal in Loving Memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes” was created, to allow just friends and family to donate a toy in Arthur’s honour, but this year after careful consideration and with Olivia’s and Madeleine’s blessing, the Christmas Toy Appeal has been opened up beyond family and friends, because at the end of the day, the more donations, the more vulnerable children we can help in Arthur’s name, memory and honour.

So as in the previous two years at this time of year we start our “Christmas Toy Appeal in Loving Memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes”, we can't stand the thought of any child going without a toy or gift at Christmas, wondering what they did that was so bad that Santa never visited them and sadly with the current financial climate this could be the fate of many more children in the UK this Christmas. The aim of this appeal is to purchase and donate as many toys as possible to vulnerable, underprivileged and unwell children in the local area, in hospices, refuges, hospitals, care homes, food banks, charities, generally to any child that otherwise wouldn't receive a gift this Christmas.

Every single penny (minus compulsory GoFundMe fees of 2.9% + £0.25 per donation) of any monetary value donated will go directly towards purchasing Christmas presents for children in need and I myself will be making a significant donation to the toy appeal, as how can I kindly ask others to donate, if I don’t donate myself. Collectively last year due to peoples unbelievably generous donations, we were able to donate close to £2,300 worth of toys to Dunelm’s “Delivering Joy” appeal and other local community charities supporting vulnerable children. We partnered with Dunelm 2 years ago, because they have the infrastructure and contacts in the local community, to ensure the donated toys get to the most vulnerable and in need children, which is absolutely critical to Arthur’s family and I, so with that in mind the following are just a brief example of the type of local charities that the toys will be donated to:

• Safe in Sussex (A charity that provides accommodation and support for those partners and children fleeing domestic abuse – toys for the children in their care who fled with nothing)

• Family Support Work (The children’s charity of Sussex who support vulnerable children and children in poverty, helping families in crisis)

• Dunelm’s “Delivering Joy” Appeal (Dunelm receive new toy donations and ensure they get to the most vulnerable, underprivileged and unwell children in the local area, in hospices, refuges, hospitals, care homes, food banks, charities etc). “Delivering Joy” is based around underprivileged and less fortunate children writing down on a tag what they would like for Christmas, which last year hit the headlines because of the heartbreaking tags received from children in need, such as a young boy asking for a biscuit for Christmas and a young girl asking for a selection box in case Santa didn’t visit

• Little Bundles Baby Bank Chichester & Arun (They supply essential items for mothers and children in need across Chichester and Arun)

Arthur loved reading so we will incorporate “The Gruffalo” and “The Snail and the Whale” in the donations, along with trolls memorabilia, footballs, build-a-bear’s and avenger toys, Arthur’s other passions.

The minimum donation amount allowed by GoFundMe is £5, which in today’s cost of living crisis may not seem very much, but trust me when I say a £5 cuddly toy, pens & paper, card game, chocolates, car or doll, to a child that otherwise would receive nothing for Christmas, would mean the absolute world to them, so however small the donation, we will ensure this amount goes to the most worthwhile of causes.

Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to read this GoFundMe and if you choose to donate, thank you so much for your support and for putting the "Merry" back into Christmas for so many vulnerable, underprivileged and unwell children in the local community, it is so very much appreciated and as always, all donated in Arthur Labinjo-Hughes name, honour and in loving memory and remembrance of Arthur, loved, honoured and remembered, always and forever beautiful little angel, you are so very, very much loved and missed precious angel, all our candles burn so very brightly for you, as you shone so very brightly here on earth for as long as you possibly could, the bravest of superheroes, thank you for simply being you, perfect in every single way, forever 6, love you Arthur xxx