Radio Skye is thrilled to be launching our “Cram the Van” Christmas Appeal for 2020 after what has been a very difficult year for families across Skye and Lochalsh. Once again, the station will be gathering new toys and gifts for local children (from babies to teens) via the various donation points around their listening area and literally cramming the Radio Skye van with all contributions to then distribute to the local children and families who will appreciate it most this Christmas. This year to add to the campaign, we are raising money through this Just Giving Page to raise a little extra that will go towards more vouchers including for food so that families can have a few extra treats over the festive period.

Why we set up Cram The Van

Information from the Scottish Government report; Poverty and income inequality in Scotland: 2015-2018 indicates that 20% of people in Scotland were living in relative poverty after housing costs in during this period and overall, the poverty rate continues to rise. Child poverty in Scotland is up from 230,000 to 240,000, or one in five children, with 65% of children in poverty living in working families, showing the consequences of poorly paid employment and falling wages.

It is hard to believe these statistics include Skye and Lochalsh. They have heard stories of local children choosing to skip meals so other members of their family can eat. These families are here on our doorsteps and for many the Christmas season is a particularly hard time of year. Radio Skye has a great platform to reach the local community and they want to use it to help ease the burden on local families at Christmas.

The toys and vouchers are sorted and distributed through Radio Skye working alongside local groups, last year they worked with Community Children’s Worker, Children’s Service Worker, Family First, Social Work, Health Visitors, Skye and Lochalsh Community Food Bank, Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau and Skye And Lochalsh Young Carers.

This has been a particularly difficult year for families and we were very aware of the hardship 2020 has caused. We wanted to make this a bumper year for Cram The Van by adding a Just Giving Page so that people can safely make donations which will be spent on food and gift vouchers to make sure we can help more families this year as well as the usual toy bins across Skye and Lochalsh. We already raised £1165 through our 24 Hour Live event which is really fantastic!

We have Big Red Toy Bins at the following locations around Skye and Lochalsh where you can drop them off:

Portree Co-op (Woodpark Road)

Broadford Co-op

Kyle Co-op

RBS Portree

Kyle Post Office

MacIntyre’s Toy Shop, Portree

Aros Centre, Portree

Rankins, Uig

RBS, Portree

Portree Food Share

Relish

Radio Skye Studio, Portree

All toys must be brand new and unwrapped, used toys cannot be accepted. If you would rather make a donation, you can do this via our Cram The Van Just Giving Page.

The Red Bins will be out in shops for four weeks from Friday 6th November until Sunday 4th December. These donations will be distributed to local families by our partners in good time for Christmas.

For more information and on how to make a donation, please contact Suzy on 01478 611796 or suzy@radioskye.com