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Don't Write us off / Xmas Present Appeal
Between 06 December 2008 and 06 December 2008, in Truro
BBC Radio Cornwall has been on the Piazza on Lemon Quay in Truro to cover the start of the Salvation Army's Christmas Present Appeal, and participated in national coverage of the Agents4Change 'Dont Write Us Off' Campaign.
Volunteers from the Salvation Army and Agents4Change spent Saturday 6 December talking to people and getting their views on the youth of today. Armed with clipboards and fortune cookies the aim of the day was to get peoples opinions about youth and Cornwall and then to write them on a big yellow board.
The 'Don't Write Us Off' campaign is designed to change people's perceptions of youngsters today. Often in the news are stories about hooded youths robbing old age pensioners or running riot in local communities. Volunteers tried to dissuade this stereotype by wearing bright red hoodies throughout the day.
Volunteers came from all over Cornwall including Matt Kemp who is studying Journalism at University College Falmouth and George Poole from Redruth Police Cadets.
Matt said: "It's just a few bad apples that have given the rest of us a bad name, hopefully what we, and all the other groups around the country, are doing today will go some way to change the way society thinks about youth."
Agents4Change provided fortune cookies which contained a selection of positive messages from young people around the country such as:
'Young people need more positive opportunities such as events and activities that build a sense of community' - Laura aged 23.
The day got a real boost at 11am when the Hayle Town Band arrived and started playing a rousing array of festive music.
While Agents4Change were speaking to people about youngsters, volunteers from the Salvation Army were talking to shoppers about childhood and the need for every child to receive a gift this Christmas.
The annual appeal encourages people to donate new presents to families who are struggling at this time of year to ensure that children get at least one present whatever the family's financial circumstances.
In previous years presents collected by the appeal would have been given to children on behalf of Santa or Father Christmas. This year the presents will come from the parents of the children. This is because it is not only a gift to the child but to the parent as well.
A large number of presents and other donations were received on the day from BBC Radio Cornwall listeners.
Adrian Prior-Sankey, regional press officer for the Salvation Army remarked: "It's wonderful to see such generosity on such a cold day, we couldn't have hoped for better."
Working in partnership with social services, the Salvation Army targets those most in need of a gift this Christmas.
Gifts, which must be new, can be dropped off at most Salvation Army churches or any Superdrug in Cornwall.
The day was a resounding success with hundreds of people coming to show their support for both the Christmas Present Appeal and the Dont Write Us Off campaign.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/content/articles/2008/12/08/places_dontwriteusoff_feature.shtml
Posted on 05 December 2008 10:01:26 by Zak Stanley
