Hi, my name is Nadia and I'm fundraising after recently reading about the most horrendous and upsetting real life stories of our young, innocent, Northeast’s most vulnerable children this Christmas.

I am supporting Nora’s Northpole.

Noras Northpole is an initiative set up in memory of a Lady named Norah whose mission it was to ensure that no vulnerable child ever wakes up on Christmas morning without a present to open. Norah’s North Pole work in collaboration with Headteachers, Social workers, Health and Social care to get Santa sacks to the most vulnerable children in our region.

Since the passing of Norah 10 years ago her family, (including her daughter who is a social worker ) have continued their brilliant work in her memory and this has resulted in ensuring children are given a sprinkle of happiness on Christmas morning who otherwise would be waking up, cold, sad, disappointed, and confused with either no gifts or next to no gifts to open. Not something any innocent child should experience.

**** TRIGGER WARNING ****

There are some utterly heartbreaking cases I’ve read about.

Some of these stories relate to parents fleeing Domestic Abuse and not being able to afford gifts for the children. Other cases, whereby the children have been removed from parents and are suffering tragic and traumatic experiences, some siblings being split up for Christmas and are desperately sad. Children as young as 6 telling their teachers that Santa isn’t coming to their house this year. The list goes on.

One awful story is a 6-year-old child saying she wasn’t writing to Santa ever again as he didn’t bring her one present last year and she can’t understand why Santa went to her friends houses but not hers. I have personally taken care of a child’s wish list, BUT with the power of our workforce, collectively we could made a huge difference to many of our most vulnerable children just by taking the time to make a small donation.

They have featured on BBC radio news last year. This is the link to their incredible work. https://norahsnorthpole.co.uk/

Please be prepared should you choose to read some tragic and heartbreaking stories, you will find them distressing.

I have been in contact with the wonderful family and I’m hoping to raise as much as we possible can by the 10th of December.

With the funds raised, I will personally buy all gifts on the children’s wish lists and have these delivered to the local centres to go directly to the children affected.

I’d be incredibly grateful if you can donate whatever you can afford to make this Christmas a little more bearable for these poor children who are faced with such trauma and misery at what should be the most magical time of year!

This is a personal piece of work I am doing as a member of the public and independent of my day job, however has received full support and backing of Senior Management.

Thanks for reading and thank you in advance for any donations forthcoming. I will keep you all updated with progress and wishing you all the very best for Christmas and New Year!