Our mission to make Christmas special for disadvantaged kids

17th March 2022

Our team collected well over two hundred gifts as part of a drive to ensure that no child goes without a present this Christmas.

Alongside its partners within the McCann Group; J McCann & Co Ltd and McCann Utilities, Peter James Homes teamed up with Nottingham radio station Gem 106 and charity, Cash for Kids as part of this year’s Mission Christmas.

Cash for Kids teams up with radio stations and companies across the UK every year to make sure every disadvantaged child wakes up on Christmas morning with a present under the tree.

Peter James Homes asked its suppliers, and anyone else who wished to help out, to donate new and unwrapped Christmas presents for youngsters of all ages.

In total, 298 presents were amassed at the group’s head office in Chilwell, Nottingham.

Staff also raised money for the cause, including making cash donations for wearing festive garb to work on Christmas Jumper Day, Friday, December 10, and the grand total was £1,405

John McCann CEO & Chairman of the McCann Group, said: “The generosity of our staff, suppliers, partners and others has been astounding.

“The idea of bringing joy to the life of a vulnerable or disadvantaged child, brings out the true meaning of Christmas in all of us.  We were simply delighted to be able to pass on so many wonderful gifts to such a worthwhile campaign as Mission Christmas, from all branches in our group.”

Companies that contributed to Peter James Homes’ Christmas gift request included Nottingham solicitors Gateley Legal, Midway Clothing, which supplies PPE and branded apparel to Peter James Homes and McCann, estate agents William H Brown and FHP Living, West Bridgford, marketing agencies M360 and The Dairy, Castle Donington-based Poppy PR Ltd, Birmingham City Council, Enva a local skip hire company, and United Trust Bank which has funded most of the developments at Peter James Homes.

Justine Bates, fundraising executive at Cash for Kids Midlands, said: “Christmas is a time for giving, but we’re blown away by the efforts of our donors this year.

“We’d like to thank everyone at Peter James Homes, McCann and everyone else who has donated cash and gifts for helping to ensure no child goes without this Christmas.”

Mission Christmas is not the only community work that Peter James Homes has been involved in recently, as the team continually seek to integrate themselves into the communities in which they build, and seek to give back wherever possible.

The developer helped to fund a free community Hog Roast at Fritchley’s Christmas Festival on December 4. The £500 donation to Fritchley Community Association was part of the company’s pledge to support communities near to its 148-home Woodland Heights development in nearby Bullbridge.

It followed a £1,000 donation to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust towards the ongoing renovation of Aqueduct Cottage, a historic former lock keepers’ cottage on the edge of Cromford Canal.

And, in the summer, Peter James Homes paid for 40 disadvantaged children and their carers to enjoy a special big top performance organised by national charity Circus Starr.

Simon Gardiner, managing director at Peter James Homes, said: “We are over the moon with the sheer effort made by our team, our suppliers and contacts, to really make a difference to so many children this Christmas.”