This festive season, we are proud to partner with local children’s charity Love, Amelia to bring joy to families across Sunderland. Through this collaboration, colleagues have referred families directly to Love, Amelia, who will prepare gifts for children and a small present for parents. These will then be delivered by colleagues to customers across the city.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supply chain, hundreds of customers will receive presents this Christmas. Love, Amelia has received over 1,400 referrals for Sunderland alone, highlighting the scale of need in our community. Alongside supporting families, we are also providing gifts for hundreds of adult customers who may otherwise go without.
Our colleagues have gone above and beyond, donating hundreds of gifts across offices and partner Jewson depots. Customers at Benedict Court even knitted clothes to support the appeal.
James Haste, Director of Property Maintenance, said:
“Our Christmas campaign is one of the most important initiatives we deliver each year. It’s about more than gifts; it’s about showing our customers that they are not alone and that their community cares. We couldn’t do this without the incredible generosity of our partners and suppliers, who step up year after year to make a real difference. Together, we’re helping to tackle child poverty and bring hope and happiness to families across Sunderland.”
This initiative forms part of our Child Poverty Pledge, which aims to reduce barriers and provide support for families living in poverty. For many, Christmas can be a particularly challenging time, and this campaign seeks to ease that pressure and bring joy to those who need it most.
Steph Capewell, Founder and Chief Executive at Love, Amelia, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Gentoo and all their partners for their generosity this Christmas. Thanks to their support, hundreds of children across our city will wake up to gifts their families simply could not have provided without help. It truly does take a village to raise a child, and the kindness shown by Gentoo and their partners demonstrates the power of community. Their support means families can experience a little joy and relief at one of the most challenging times of the year.”
More than just gifts
Your Gentoo Christmas includes a range of activities designed to spread festive cheer:
- Supporting Sunderland Mind, Gentoo’s corporate charity, with wellbeing activities
- Donating selection boxes to local community groups
- Delivering 200 Christmas dinners to customers who may otherwise go without
- Taking 200 customers to the pantomime
- Organising events and parties across Gentoo’s sheltered schemes
- Hosting a Free Fun Day at the Beacon of Light for 2,000 customers, featuring entertainment, activities and free winter clothing.
Thank you to our partners
Gentoo extends heartfelt thanks to its generous partners and suppliers who made this campaign possible:
0800 Repair, Allscaff Services, Baxi, CDM Recruitment, Cluttons, Jewson Partnership Solutions, JTC Kitchens, MGM Construction, Next Gen Eco Solutions Ltd, Prosper, RE:GEN Group, RE:GEN Solutions, Resideo and Safe Strip UK.
