Realise, which delivers apprenticeships, adult learning and development programmes across the Liverpool City region, has been supporting the Radio City Cash for Kids campaign by dedicating volunteers for around 100 hours and donating £500 too.

Across the UK, one in three children live in poverty and this figure is higher in some areas.

Throughout Mission Christmas, new and unwrapped gifts are being donated at drop-off points across the Liverpool City region where a team of volunteers sort and pack the gifts for the thousands of local children.

As well as helping in the warehouse, Realise volunteers have been on hand to unload donor vehicles, answer the phone and call beneficiaries, as well as loading collection vehicles when they’re ready for delivery.

Every gift donated and every cash amount pledged goes straight back to local communities to ensure that help is given to those who need it most.

“Christmas is a special time of the year and we want to play a small part in helping support vulnerable and disadvantaged children over the festive period.

“The response we’ve had from staff who wanted to help and take part in volunteering was overwhelming and emphasises just how lucky we are to have such a special team at Realise.

“The past 18 months have been really challenging for everyone but none more so than for charities who have had their fundraising efforts hampered by lockdowns and Covid restrictions.

“Now that we’re getting back closer to normality, we thought it was important to help make this Christmas bigger and better than ever by collecting and distributing gifts with Cash For Kids.

“Hopefully we can help beat the £12.7 million that was raised in 2020 and make sure that every disadvantaged child in Liverpool has gifts to open this year.”

“Thank you so much to all of the team at Realise, we can’t thank you enough for all of your wonderful support this Mission Christmas.

“We are only a small team of three and couldn’t run this campaign without volunteers, so having Realise staff give their time to come and pack toys and gifts is a huge help for us to make sure we get toys and gifts out to those who need them in our community.

“We massively struggle with a lack of gift donations for certain age groups especially the 9-18 boys and girls, with the generous donation Realise have made we will be able to go out and buy gifts for these age groups to make sure no one is left behind this Christmas.

“Realise are helping make sure every local child and young person gets a visit from Father Christmas this year.”