Newport Christmas toy donation appeal sees demand surge

Dom Cook, who organises the toy donation scheme, says she "won't say no to anybody"

Two friends who set up a Christmas toy donation appeal say growing demand means they are now serving the whole of a city.

Dom Cook and Jodie Matthews launched it in the pandemic for struggling families in the Bettws area of Newport.

"It sort of caught fire from there," Mrs Cook said.

"People are having to choose whether to pay their electric or buy Christmas presents and we think that you shouldn't have to do that."

Bettws is one of the poorest areas in Wales where one in three children live in poverty, according to the charity Save the Children.

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Despite this, people living in the area have rallied around to make sure no one goes without a present this Christmas.

"80% of our donations come from Bettws alone," Mrs Cook said.

"So this really is a credit to the power of people just giving a little bit and it going a massive long way."

The vast majority of gifts donated have come from people living in Bettws, which is one of the poorest areas in Wales

Mel Simmonds, Head of Save the Children Cymru, said it was an "incredible" example of the "generosity that lives within Bettws".

But she added: "It shouldn't be just be down to individuals and charities. Governments do have a place in supporting families."

The cost of living pressures over the last two years have left many households struggling to cope.

The UK and Welsh governments gave households extra support with energy bills last winter, but some of that has now been withdrawn.

Energy bills have fallen compared to last winter, but they remain higher than they were two years ago.

'We won't say no to anybody'

The city's community radio station, Newport City Radio, is supporting the appeal for Christmas toy donations.

Ian Lamsdale, the managing director, said: "We've come in to amplify it a bit, give it some social media presence, and opening up our building, the Neon, as a drop off point.

"I don't want to think there's any child in Newport going to wake up on Christmas day without opening up at least something."

Mrs Cook and Miss Matthews welcome the extra help.

They also have a lot of volunteers who help with collections and wrapping.

"We won't say no to anybody," said Mrs Cook. "We're doing the elderly this year as well."

They also try to include parents in the gift-giving - because "they always get left out".

"We try to give them something, just to give them a little bit of a pick me up," Mrs Cook added.

Dom sorting through donations at the community centre in Bettws where the scheme is run

The presents are given anonymously to protect the confidentiality of the families who receive them.

"The only people who see the names that come through is me and Jodie," said Mrs Cook.

"We know what it's like to ask for something and feel embarrassed so we never want anyone to feel embarrassed or anything like that for reaching out."

With the scheme now in its fourth year, Mrs Cook said organising it had done wonders for her confidence.

"Before we started all these toys I wouldn't speak to people, I was too scared to ring people up to ask for help," she said.

"Now, I'm on the phone and I'm like 'well we want it, we need it and we're having it'.'"

The results will be felt in homes all over Newport on Christmas Day.