Toy appeal launched for Royal Oldham Hospital

Upturn is determined to ensure there isn’t a little boy or girl who have been forgotten by Santa Claus this Christmas - by launching a toy appeal for the Royal Oldham Hospital’s Children’s Ward.

The local good cause, who spend their days finding employment and working opportunities for disadvantaged young people, have once again teamed up with charity Northcare to collect and distribute new toys to poorly patients.

And they are determined to build on the success of last year’s drive and provide a little something for every single one of the 140 children forced to spend the festivities in a hospital bed.

“Last year we were astonished at the generosity of the people of Oldham, especially at a time of such economic hardship,” said Anwar Ali OBE, Managing Director of Upturn, “the supermarket trolley we placed outside of our premises in the Spindles shopping centre was overflowing with gifts from an overflowing of kindness.”

This year Upturn is asking for new toys to be similarly placed inside a trolley located outside their Hive business hub on the second floor of the town’s main mall.

It is already beginning to bulge with everything from kitten calendars to Subbuteo sets.

The plan is to wrap the gifts on the December 18 deadline and then distribute them.

Companies made major contributions in 2024, and Upturn is hopeful of the same business kindness this time around.

“The other side of our work is helping small and medium sized enterprises through our events and online trading platform,” added Anwar, “the aim is to make Oldham a thriving economic community where everyone benefits.

"That personal relationship with business means we can call on them to help those most in need.

"And I am happy to say that they rise to the challenge every time!”

Upturn is a social enterprise connecting people, communities, and enterprise.

It does this by unlocking potential, supporting businesses, and enabling social mobility.

Its new business hub, The Hive, is a space dedicated to organisations determined to help Oldham.

To book a meeting or even co-work there, email: info@upturn.org.uk

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