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As Christmas approaches, children up and down the country are impatiently waiting to open their presents. But there are many children at risk of not getting a present at all.
To try and help some of these children, Aber Valley Football Club has set up its ‘Gift a Child’ scheme.
So far, more than 200 people have donated gifts to around 50 disadvantaged children across Caerphilly County Borough through the scheme.
It is the second year the club has done this – but this year has had a much bigger response than last.
Club committee member Andrew Hart praised the community’s generosity and said: “It’s gone way out there.
“We had around 70 or 80 presents donated last year but there’s potential for around 1,000 presents this year.”
Despite being involved in similar initiatives in the past, Andrew said he had “never seen a response like this before”.
“It’s been phenomenal, especially in times like these. The club has been the driving force behind this.”
Some of the gifts donated include bikes and an Xbox gaming console.
The football club is working with a variety of organisations, including The Parent Network, to reach families struggling this winter.
What is The Parent Network?
The Parent Network, which is based in Gilfach, near Bargoed, is a group aiming to support parents across Caerphilly County Borough.
The group gives parents a chance to voice their opinions on local services and policies which affect families and young people.
The group also gives parents the chance to meet up for a chat, as well as to offer support and advice to each other.
The children receiving the presents range from as young as nine-months-old up to 19-years-old, with the gifts allocated through referrals.
The efforts have involved the whole club. Andrew works with the groups involved with the families, while his sister, Becky Hart, works on the admin side.
The players and management have also played their part, while the Aber Hotel, which has strong links with the club, has taken in gifts ready to be donated.
“Aber Valley FC is a community-based club,” Andrew said. “It’s not just about football, it’s about the community.
“We run a food bank and the football boys offer their services in the community.
“Through the food bank we know how many vulnerable kids are out there.”
All gift donations need to be in by December 16, with Andrew set to load them into his car on December 19, before delivering them to the organisations involved ready for them to be distributed to families.
“The organisations will give the presents to the families. We won’t take credit for them – they’re all from Santa, not us. There’s no sticker or anything on the gifts saying it’s from us.”
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