A training provider is lending a helping hand to help disadvantaged children in Merseyside celebrate Christmas.

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 as well as donating £500.

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.

Gregg Scott, Managing Director of Realise, said: “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.”

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.

Gregg added: ““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.”