Struggling families 'given a Christmas lifeline'

Sarah Brignall delivers Christmas presents to schoolchildren in Hull

Donations of coats, shoes and Christmas presents are providing a lifeline for struggling families, a school has said.

Yorkshire Children's Charity has been visiting schools around the region to give out winter essentials and gifts to children in need, amid a steep rise in demand.

Vicky Hird, the deputy head teacher at Wansbeck Primary School, Hull, said they would be the only presents some children received.

Sarah Brignall, a volunteer with the charity, added that during the cost-of-living crisis, "it's an absolute godsend for a lot of parents".

Schools can apply to the charity on behalf of families who might be in "desperate need" of warm clothing and bedding for their children, Ms Brignall said.

"There is such a necessity for it. I think the applications this year have doubled."

Vicky Hird with one of the coats donated for a child at the school

Ms Hird said the cost-of-living crisis had left many families under pressure.

"A lot of our families have gas and electricity meters that they top up, so they're feeling that strain to warm the house.

"We do what we can to help by reaching out to charities."

Ms Brignall said providing essential goods was the first important part of the campaign, and the second was providing gifts.

Parents referred by a school are given £80 per child and select the presents, which are then bought by the charity and delivered with wrapping paper and tags, ready to be wrapped.

"To see those children and the joy on their faces, I get over-excited myself," Ms Brignall said. "Seeing it being delivered is just fantastic."

She praised the efforts of volunteers who were "all in their sheds now, putting the essentials into bags and delivering".

"The charity wants to make sure that the essentials get to as many places as they possibly can to make each child's Christmas as special as possible."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.