Why the Burnley Christmas Gift Appeal matters more than ever | Burnley Express editor John Deehan

The Burnley Together Christmas Gift Appeal (the Burnley Toy Appeal in a previous life) has been running for so long that we can't actually find out exactly when it started.

What we do know is that it began as a joint effort between the Samaritans and the Burnley Express, with the first collection taking place sometime in the late 1980s.

That means for almost 40 years, businesses, organisations and people across Burnley have been coming together to make sure children in our community have something to open on Christmas morning.

Sadly, the need has grown during that time. And as demand has increased, so too has the scale of the appeal.

Thankfully, the good souls at Burnley Together have now taken on the mantle of organising it, which leaves our job here at the Express pretty simple – to get the message out as far and wide as we can.

For me personally, it's one of the most important causes we get behind. The message could not be simpler: no child should wake up on Christmas morning without a present to open.

Growing up in Nelson, I was lucky enough to enjoy some wonderful Christmases. There were always presents under the tree, and the older you get, the more you appreciate the effort your parents put into making it all happen.

In my case, that usually involved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Action figures, video games, costumes; if it had a turtle on it, chances are it was on my Christmas list. Now, with a one-year-old of my own, I'm beginning to realise just how expensive Christmas can be – and how much more expensive it's going to get.

And he's not even old enough to start writing a list yet .Of course, I'm fully aware that Christmas isn't all about turkey and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But for children, there are few things more magical than waking up on December 25 and finding presents waiting under the tree.

For some families, though, finding the money for those presents on top of food, heating, bills and everything else in 2026 is simply not possible. That is why this appeal still matters so much, even after all these years.

Every toy donated, every pound given, every collection point opened and every business that gets involved can help make Christmas morning that little bit brighter for a child in Burnley.

And after almost 40 years, that's still what it's all about. So, if you're able to help this year, please do. It doesn't matter how much or how little you can give. Even just sharing this message can make a difference.

And if you would like to get involved or find out how you can help, feel free to email Ella Roberts at [email protected] or me at [email protected].