UKTram and LRSSB support local families through Toy Drive initiative

This year, the UKTram and LRSSB teams have taken a new approach to their usual Secret Santa tradition by joining forces to support Toys4Bham, a city-wide Christmas Toy Drive appeal providing gifts for vulnerable children and young people across Birmingham.

Thanks to the generosity and festive spirit of colleagues across both organisations, an incredible £925 has been raised, a sum far beyond expectations and one that will help bring joy to families facing hardship this winter. This impressive amount has enabled the donation of a total of 304 presents.

The initiative, coordinated by Dan Hill, UKTram’s Knowledge Manager, invited staff to donate the cost of a Secret Santa gift to the Toy Drive instead. Reflecting on the response, Dan said: 

“I never expected us to raise this much, and it’s going to go towards making a lot of kids happy this Christmas. This achievement truly shows what we can do when we pull together as a team.” 

Toys4Bham is a partnership led by Thrive Together Birmingham, working alongside the Warwickshire Cricket Foundation, Birmingham Play Care Network and the Birmingham Mail. The campaign aims to support families who are experiencing financial hardship, responding directly to requests from Birmingham’s Children’s Centres. 

Last year, the initiative collected more than 14,000 new toys and gifts at a donation centre at Edgbaston Stadium. With even more families facing difficult circumstances this year, the appeal has expanded to help meet rising need across the city. 

Donations collected through UKTram and LRSSB went directly towards purchasing new toys and gifts to be distributed to children and young people in the run-up to Christmas. As the appeal continues across Birmingham, UKTram and LRSSB would like to thank every colleague who donated and helped make this year’s effort such a success.