Duke of Edinburgh assists with Christmas gift packing during Northern Ireland visit

On Thursday morning, the Duke of Edinburgh participated in the packing of presents intended for the most disadvantaged children at the “Mission Christmas” headquarters of Cash for Kids NI. Prince Edwards engaged with both staff and volunteers, encountered beneficiaries, and toured the premises. This initiative seeks to guarantee that economically disadvantaged children receive gifts on Christmas Day. Cash for Kids NI collaborates with educational institutions, social services, accredited children’s charities, and local community organizations to pinpoint the areas with the greatest need for these donations. Patrick Butler, a volunteer, emphasized the significance of the campaign, stating: “I have two young kids and I couldn’t think of anything worse than my kids waking up on Christmas morning without a present.” Mr. Butler expressed that he was “absolutely shocked” upon learning of the Duke’s impending visit. He recounted, “When I pulled up this morning, I seen the police and I thought I was in the wrong place, and then I found out we were going to have a very special visitor… an absolute pleasure to have royalty visit us this morning.” Lauren Baxter, the Regional Manager for Cash for Kids NI, commented that Prince Edward appeared “very engaged” during his visit. She remarked, “I think he was shocked by the scale of it and the fact that the numbers we were sharing today were just in Northern Ireland.” She further stated, “We’re hoping to help somewhere in the region of 18,000 children this Christmas.” The public is encouraged to purchase an additional present while shopping, to be donated to a child who might otherwise awaken to no gifts on Christmas morning. In the year 2023, the campaign generated over £1.3 million, providing assistance to more than 20,000 children. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights are reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.