Image demonstrating Angels scheme shows outstanding generosity

Angels scheme shows outstanding generosity

Generous customers and staff at The Seven Oaks Hungry Horse Inn at Cramlington have been working with Northumberland County Council’s children’s services team to give presents to children who could otherwise have been without gifts this Christmas.

The pub teamed up with the council following a successful initiative started last year at the Keel Row shopping centre in Blyth.

The inspirational scheme involves cut out paper Angels being hung on a Christmas tree in The Seven Oaks.

Social workers identified children who they knew would be in situations of need over the Christmas period and helped them to each write one or two present ideas on an Angel.

Customers and staff then took an Angel or Angels and purchased or donated gifts, which the children’s services team then picked up and delivered before Christmas.

Cllr Wayne Daley, cabinet member for children’s services at Northumberland County Council said:  “The response to this initiative has been absolutely outstanding. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the general public and also of the staff at the Hungry Horse.

“The children identified were likely, for a range of different reasons, to have a potentially difficult time at Christmas, with little prospect of receiving the sort of gifts that others might expect.

“Presents donated were of a wide range of sizes and types - some people even giving bicycles or Xboxes.

“Our sincere thanks go to everyone involved in this initiative - all of the team at the Hungry Horse, all of those who have generously given gifts and our own children’s services locality team.  They have surely changed Christmas for more than 200 children in South East Northumberland.”

Lesley Johnson, general manager at the Seven Oaks Hungry Horse, said: “Everyone really embraced the idea and it was lovely to see so many of our team and customers getting involved. Everyone at the pub has been completely blown away by the kindness of the community in making this a special Christmas for so many children.

“We’re pleased we were able to support the county council’s Angels scheme and to see it embodying the spirit of Christmas like this has been inspiring for us all to see.

“Thank you to everyone involved and we’re thrilled the Seven Oaks was able to host such a special event for the community.”

The council’s social services team also delivered food parcels from the St Nicholas Church food bank, to which people in the local area have also given very generously this Christmas.
 
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