I’m raising funds for a special appeal that has been part of my life in Newham for 44 years...a campaign that is right at the heart of life in East London.

It was all those years ago that I first helped launch the Newham Christmas Toy Appeal, with founder Kevin Jenkins. The appeal has helped tens of thousands of children over those years and is still as relevant today as it was back then.

This year is especially poignant for all of us who are involved. For Kevin, who started the appeal all those years ago, passed away earlier this year. He founded charity Ambition, Ambition, Achieve five years ago, and was co-founder of charity Community Links.

We have renamed the appeal in his memory, and it will now be forever known as The Kevin Jenkins MBE Newham Christmas Toy Appeal.

Over the coming two months, the Newham Recorder, and charity Ambition, Aspire, Achieve supported by Community Links, are joining forces for the campaign to bring joy to thousands of vulnerable children, families and adults.

Christmas can be a time of stress and isolation as many of our children are still living in poverty. But this appeal looks to strengthen communities and raise aspirations at this time, making Christmas special and futures brighter.

I am proud to be a patron of the toy appeal campaign, having been part of the appeal for the Recorder as reporter, news editor, sub-editor, assistant editor, deputy editor, associate editor and then as Editor during my 40+ years at the Recorder. I have remained part of it as a patron since I left almost nine years ago.

Next month will also be the 44th time I have dived in to swim 50 lengths breast stroke to help raise money for the appeal...quite a tough ask given my COPD. But I am determined to do it again in December.

The Recorder, AAA and Links will be featuring how to donate new toys or money and take part in our campaign generally to get new toys and gifts. We need to collect 15,000 new toys - a huge challenge. The appeal officially launches in the Newham Recorder on November 10.

Charity Ambition, Aspire, Achieve, of which I am a trustee, will be providing toys and much more for children and their families as part of the appeal.

If you would like to give to my small effort or the wider appeal that would be great. Thank you. Every pound give is immediately spent on gifts. Details on how you can support the campaign in general will be in the Recorder every week and on their website www.newhamrecorder.co.uk from early November and also on my website www.colin-grainger.co.uk and also on AAA's social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks again for your support

* Thanks to Molly at the Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre for taking the cover picture for the 2021 appeal.