'Give a gift' helps Santa

12:20pm Thursday 4th December 2008

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THE Brunel shopping centre's Christmas Gift Appeal has come up with an interesting concept of seasonal goodwill for Swindon youngsters.

The reverse Santa meeting is aimed at giving children the opportunity to give presents to those less fortunate than themselves by putting their gifts into an appeal box in return for a balloon or sweet.

The aim is to allow children to give something to those from Swindon Women’s Refuge, Great Western Hospital’s Children's Ward and the Variety Club for Christmas.

Mark Martin, deputy centre manager of The Brunel shopping centre, said: “We’re having such a great response from adults for the Give a Gift Appeal that we thought it would be lovely for younger visitors to The Brunel to be able to give presents for children, if they want to.

“We were amazingly lucky to persuade Santa, at one of his busiest days of the year, to come to The Brunel to accept gifts.

“He’s told us that he’ll be taking them straight back to the North Pole, so his elves can wrap them all up to deliver them to children who may be having a bit of a tough time this Christmas.”

Purchased gifts can be put in the appeal boxes that can be found in the Brunel Centre and most of its shops or they can be left at the Swindon Advertiser reception, on Victoria Road, or the Legends’ Lounge at the County Ground.

Big supporters of the scheme are GWR FM’s Jez and Roo.

The breakfast show presenters were at the centre on Friday to speak to shoppers about the campaign.

They managed to fill two large appeal boxes with presents after kind public donations.

Santa will appear The Brunel between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, December 13.

All are welcome to visit him on his busy day.