Burnley Together launches annual Christmas Present Appeal 2025

Championed by the Burnley Express for decades, the appeal aims to make sure that children from vulnerable and disadvantaged families across the borough will have brand new gifts to wake up to on Christmas morning.

Thanks to the generosity of people across Burnley in 2024, 1,000 youngsters had new toys and gifts delivered to them in time for Christmas Day after an incredible 40 organisations, including schools and businesses, hosted collections.

Gifts for children, and teenagers up to the age of 18, are being collected. From toys, books, games, craft materials and gadgets, the appeal asks that all items donated are new and unwrapped. Originally launched by the Salvation Army, the appeal was taken over by Burnley Together during the pandemic to ensure the vital tradition continued. Families are referred to the appeal by schools, health visitors, social care, domestic abuse services, support workers and housing teams.

And this year Burnley Together have kept the twist on how they are asking for gifts to be collected. Can you be creative and produce your own way to collect? This could be a sack, a Christmas gift box or will it be under your Christmas tree.

Whether you collect as a workplace or individually, gifts can be dropped off at Down Town in Charter Walk shopping centre in Burnley. More collection points will be announced soon. For more information about donating or volunteering with the team of ‘elves’ to to sort all the toys in Santa’s grotto please contact Burnley Together at 01282 686402 or email [email protected]