Officers and partners to spread Christmas cheer in joint appeal

We have teamed up with a football club and charitable foundation to help spread Christmas cheer across Staffordshire this year and we’re encouraging you to get involved.

The Christmas appeal sees us partner with Port Vale Football Club and The Port Vale Foundation to provide presents and support to individuals and families throughout the festive period.

Since the project began, three years ago, we have helped to provide more than 600 vulnerable people with a Christmas dinner, festive treats and donated presents.

But we need your help. If you are able to, please consider donating unperishable foods and unwrapped gifts suitable for adults and children, to help us to continue to support them at this time of year.

We will then deliver the donated meals and gifts to those in need in time for Christmas.

To make a donation, the following stations will be open and available to gratefully receive your items:

• Burslem Police Station, 6 Jackson Street, Burslem, open every day, 7am to midnight

• Port Vale Foundation building, Hamil Road, Burslem, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

PSCO Chris Hill, of Stoke North Local Policing Team, who has been involved in the project since its inception, said: “We know it has been a difficult year for many families, especially now with the increasing cost of living.

“By being part of this tremendous appeal, we want to help vulnerable children, isolated adults and those in need to receive something special this year. “It’s important that everyone knows they are cared for – not just over Christmas but throughout the entire year – and we as a force are determined to work proactively with our local partners to help keep our communities safe, healthy and able to celebrate this festive season.” Port Vale Football Club Chair and Co-Owner, Carol Shanahan OBE, said: “We are so grateful for the amazing, continued support of the Christmas Appeal from Port Vale supporters, local people and our brilliant partners.

“If you can this year, please donate by dropping off gifts, non-perishable food items or wrapping paper, or by making a donation to our JustGiving page to help us with our aim of providing festive cheer to more local people in need than ever before.

“Our team of volunteers from Port Vale, Synectics Solutions, the Hubb Foundation, Bescura Family Hubb and Staffordshire Police will be wrapping and delivering gifts for local people and providing interaction that otherwise may not be there for those who may be at risk of social isolation throughout the next month. We will also be inviting over 100 local people to Vale Park for dinner on Christmas Day.

“We are very mindful of a challenging period ahead and we are determined to play our part in helping Stoke-on-Trent to be stronger together through winter – thank you in advance for any support you can provide.”

To find out more about policing in your community, visit Your Area.