In true festive spirit, inspiring corporate donors, supporters and partners have enabled Save the Children to deliver over 8,000 children’s gifts to families across south Wales who are feeling the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis this Christmas.

Presents including toys, books, warm clothing and blankets were distributed to local schools, community organisations and support groups in Cardiff, Newport, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthen and Blaenau Gwent to give to parents in desperate need of support after what has been a very difficult year.

Donations have also been given to local authorities supporting families from Ukraine whose children will be spending their first Christmas away from loved ones and to organisations supporting other refugee families.

Over 6,000 have been provided by Hasbro, with support from Ceva Logistics, and from Amazon. A further 2,000 donations came from organisations such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Wales, Valleys Kids, The Toybox Project, as well as big-hearted supporters and individuals.

A recent survey for Save the Children revealed that eight out of ten parents on Universal Credit across the UK say the cost-of-living crisis has already negatively impacted their child practically in terms of food, clothing and keeping warm. Nearly 75% said it has negatively impacted their child emotionally, with some showing anxiety and struggling to sleep as they see their parents wrestle with soaring prices. The charity is also hearing from parents who are going without some basics themselves so that they can bring some Christmas joy to their children this year.

This will be the fourth year that Phil Draper from Cardiff has supported the appeal with donations gathered from friends, family members and colleagues who came together to create individual gift bags to give to over 200 children.

“I think because of the cost-of-living crisis we all fully understand that there are families having to make difficult decisions this winter, choosing whether to put the heating on or to cook a hot meal. Parents then face the added pressure of trying to buy presents for their children and to make the holidays feel special. We hope we’re able to alleviate some of those pressures by providing gifts for the children. The donations are all down to friends, family and colleagues who go above and beyond, not only to donate themselves, but also to spread the word and secure further donations.” explained Phil.

Working in partnership with Save the Children, Valley Kids have been able to support over 600 children across Rhondda Cynon Taf and Neath Port Talbot with Christmas gifts.

Valley Kids Family Team Coordinator, Katheryn Edwards said: “This year the need for donations has been overwhelming. For lots of people the choice between keeping their light and heating on and feeding their family is a reality and something which is very relevant in the communities we work in. This year working in partnership with Save the Children and with the donations from individuals, from various companies and organisations, big and small, we have seen how a network working together can really make a difference – a huge thank you.”

Melanie Simmonds, Head of Save the Children Cymru added: “The kindness and compassion of our donors and supporters in wanting to help children within their communities has been so heart-warming.

“Children shouldn’t have to bear the burden of the cost-of-living crisis. We are so grateful to everyone who has been involved this year in helping to bring smiles to faces on Christmas Day by providing donations, co-ordinating and delivering them. We’ve been hearing daily from parents and our partners how difficult this winter has been for them and we know the cost-of-living crisis will continue to bite well into next year.

“We all need to work together to address these challenges. Over the coming years, through our work, we will try to reduce the number of children growing up in poverty in Wales by working with others, drawing on the latest evidence, and most importantly listening to the voices of children and families and our partners working within communities.”

Elusen yn dosbarthu dros 8,000 o anrhegion Nadolig i deuluoedd yn ne Cymru yn ystod yr argyfwng costau byw

Yng ngwir ysbryd yr ŵyl, mae cefnogwyr ysbrydoledig, cwmnïau corfforaethol a phartneriaid wedi galluogi Achub y Plant i ddosbarthu dros 8,000 o anrhegion i blant sy’n byw ar aelwydydd yn ne Cymru ble mae rhieni yn ei chael hi’n anodd oherwydd yr argyfwng costau byw.

Dosbarthwyd anrhegion yn cynnwys teganau, llyfrau, dillad a blancedi cynnes i ysgolion lleol, grwpiau cymunedol a sefydliadau cefnogi teuluoedd yng Nghaerdydd, Casnewydd, Caerffili, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Castell-nedd Port Talbot, Caerfyrddin a Blaenau Gwent.

Mae rhoddion hefyd wedi eu rhannu gydag awdurdodau lleol sy’n cefnogi teuluoedd o Wcráin sy’n treulio eu Nadolig cyntaf i ffwrdd o’u hanwyliaid, a hefyd i sefydliadau sy’n  cynorthwyo ffoaduriaid o wledydd eraill.

Mae dros 6,000 o anrhegion wedi’u cyfrannu gan Hasbro, gyda chymorth gan Ceva Logistics ac Amazon. Cyfrannwyd 2,000 yn fwy o anrhegion gan sefydliadau fel Eglwys Iesu Grist a Saint y Dyddiau Diwethaf yng Nghymru, staff ac aelodau teulu Valleys Kids, Prosiect Toybox a chefnogwyr ac unigolion hael.

Fe ddatgelodd arolwg diweddar gan Achub y Plant bod wyth o bob deg o rieni sy’n derbyn Credyd Cynhwysol ar draws y DU yn cyfaddef bod yr argyfwng costau byw wedi cael effaith ar eu plant yn ymarferol yn nhermau bwyd, dillad a chadw’n gynnes.

Dywedodd bron i 75% ei fod wedi cael effaith negyddol ar eu plant yn emosiynol, gyda rhai yn dangos arwyddion o bryder ac yn cael trafferth cysgu wrth iddynt weld eu rhieni yn ceisio dygymod gyda chostau byw yn cynyddu. Mae’r elusen hefyd yn clywed gan rieni sy’n mynd heb rhai pethau sylfaenol fel bwyd a gwres er mwyn gallu prynu anrhegion a dod ag ychydig o lawenydd i’w plant dros y Nadolig.

Dyma fydd y bedwaredd flwyddyn i Phil Draper o Gaerdydd gefnogi’r apêl gyda rhoddion wedi eu casglu gan ffrindiau, aelodau o’i deulu a’i gydweithwyr a ddaeth ynghyd i gyfrannu dros 200 o anrhegion i blant.

“Rwy’n credu oherwydd yr argyfwng costau byw ein bod i gyd yn deall bod yna deuluoedd sy’n wynebu dewisiadau amhosib y gaeaf hwn, rhwng troi’r gwres ymlaen neu goginio pryd poeth o fwyd. Mae rhieni hefyd yn wynebu yr her ychwanegol o ganfod arian i brynu anrhegion i’w plant. Ein gobaith yw y gallwn liniaru ychydig ar y pryder hynny i rieni drwy gyfrannu anrhegion i’r plant. Mae’r cyfraniadau i gyd  wedi eu rhoi gan ffrindiau, aelodau o’m teulu a chydweithwyr hael sydd wedi mynd y filltir ychwaegol honno, nid yn unig i gyfrannu eu hunain, ond i ledaenu’r gair er mwyn sicrhau mwy o roddion yn y dyfodol fel y gallwn barhau i gefnogi yn flynyddol,” eglura Phil.

Drwy weithio mewn partneriaeth gydag Achub y Plant mae Plant y Cymoedd wedi gallu dosbarthu dros 600 o anrhegion i blant ar draws Rhondda Cynon Taf a Chastell-nedd Port Talbot gydag anrhegion Nadolig.

Meddai Cydlynydd Tîm Teuluoedd Plant y Cymoedd, Katheryn Edwards: “Eleni mae’r angen am roddion wedi bod yn enfawr. I nifer o bobl mae’r dewis rhwng cadw’r golau a’r gwres ymlaen a bwydo eu teuluoedd yn realiti bob dydd ac yn rhywbeth perthnasol iawn yn y cymunedau ble rydyn ni yn gweithio. Eleni drwy weithio mewn partneriaeth gydag Achub y Plant a gyda’r rhoddion gan unigolion, cwmnïau corfforaethol, boed fawr neu fach, rydym wedi gweld sut y mae cyd-weithio yn gallu gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr – diolch o galon.”

Ychwanegodd Melanie Simmonds, Pennaeth Achub y Plant, “Mae caredigrwydd a haelioni ein cyfranwyr a’n cefnogwyr i helpu plant o fewn eu cymunedau wedi bod yn anhygoel.

“Ni ddylai plant dalu’r pris am yr argyfwng costau byw. Ry’n ni mor ddiolchgar i bawb sydd wedi bod ynghlwm â’r apêl yma eleni er mwyn dod â gwên i wynebau plant ar ddiwrnod Nadolig. Ry’n ni wedi bod yn clywed yn ddyddiol gan rieni a’n partneriaid pa mor anodd yw’r gaeaf hwn i deuluoedd ac rydym yn gwybod y bydd yr argyfwng costau byw yn parhau i frathu yn y flwyddyn newydd a thros y misoedd i ddod.

“Mae angen i ni gyd weithio gyda’n gilydd i fynd i’r afael â’r heriau yma. Dros y blynyddoedd nesaf, drwy ein gwaith, fe fyddwn yn ceisio lleihau y nifer o blant sy’n tyfu i fyny mewn tlodi yng Nghymru, a hynny drwy weithio gydag eraill, edrych ar y dystiolaeth ddiweddaraf, ac yn fwy na dim sicrhau ein bod yn gwrando ar leisiau y plant a’u teuluoedd a’n partneriaid rydym yn gweithio gyda hwy o fewn eu cymunedau.”

Diwedd