Bring some Christmas joy to sick Brighton children

Santa Claus and his helper pay a visit to Brightons Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children, one of the key beneficiaries from the Giving Tree appeal in aid of Rockinghorse Childrens Charity. Picture: Hannah Brackenbury/Vervate

The Giving Tree at the Brighton shopping centre has gift tags hanging from its branches. Shoppers can pick a tag and buy a gift for a sick local child supported by Rockinghorse.

Tags on the tree contain specific details, including a child’s name and age, their desired gift and where to buy it from. Alternatively shoppers can donate a gift of their choice.

The tree will be in place at the shopping centre until Christmas Eve.

“We’ve already had a fantastic response to this year’s Giving Tree campaign,” said Mark Buchanan-Smith, Churchill Square centre director. “With Christmas falling on a weekend it means we still have a few days to collect these much-needed gifts for children and babies across the region, and the more we can collect the better.

“People just select a tag, buy the gift and take it to the Customer Service Desk. All the gifts will then be collected by the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and distributed to children across Sussex. Each successive year I’m blown away by how charitable our customers are.”

The Giving Tree, which is in its sixth year, can be found in the central promotion court at Churchill Square. Tags can be taken any time and parcels can be left with customer services any day until Christmas Eve.