Norwich Waterstones shoppers urged to back children's appeal

The Giving Tree Appeal, now in its 18th year, is a festive initiative by Norfolk County Council’s children’s services department and the Norwich branch of bookshop Waterstones.

The Giving Tree at Waterstones in Norwich (Image: Norfolk County Council)

The scheme aims to provide presents for children and young people who are in the care of the county council.

The Giving Tree, in the bookstore's Castle Street store is decorated with hundreds of tags, each representing a child and the book they wish to receive for Christmas.

People are invited to pick a tag from the tree, buy the appropriate book and take it to the till.

The books will then be collected by the county council, wrapped and delivered in time for Christmas, so the children can unwrap them on December 25.

Penny Carpenter (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

Penny Carpenter, cabinet member for children's services at Conservative-run County Hall, said: "The Giving Tree is a wonderful initiative that brings the joy of reading to children of all ages who are less fortunate.

"Norfolk County Council believes every child deserves to experience the hope and excitement of Christmas morning with a special gift.

"We are immensely grateful to our supporters who have made this festive moment possible for hundreds of children over the years."

Ben Richardson, manager of the Waterstones branch, said: "We are always really happy to have the Giving Tree in store because our customers really love it, and we want to help to support the county's looked after children.

"In the run up to autumn we have people coming into the store to ask us when the tree will be up, and customers find it really rewarding supporting the project.

"People particularly like that they are able to pick out a book for an individual child and know that they will be opening it on Christmas Day."

Books must be bought by Sunday, December 1, so they can be wrapped and distributed to reach children in time.