Section 5 drummers and Pudsey Bear attended the sale in Stade Hall.

Unwanted gifts benefit children in need

A bright idea from a BBC Sussex radio presenter has led to fundraising success for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal through the sale of unwanted Christmas gifts, as the programme makers explain.

Since Christmas, listeners have been donating their unwanted festive gifts, which were then resold at a special sale this weekend – Saturday 30 January – at the Stade Hall in Hastings. The first ever Give A Gift sale raised no less than £850.

Unwanted gifts looking for a new home.

Items sold ranged from perfume and books to teddy bears and toys. Pudsey Bear was also in attendance and the event was hosted by members of the BBC Sussex team, including presenters Danny Pike and Mark Carter. Volunteers from ChatterBex, a social group from Bexhill-on-Sea, also helped with the stalls and there were special performances from the Section 5 drummers.

“We’re thrilled with the success of this event and we raised far more money than we expected to,” said assistant editor and presenter Mark Carter, whose brainchild the event was. “I’m really grateful to all of the listeners who donated gifts in the first place and to those who turned out on a fairly wet January morning and gave so generously.”

“With the sad passing of Sir Terry Wogan this weekend, it’s so pleasing to have raised this money for a charity he did so much to support,” added editor Sara David.

BBC Sussex is also grateful for the support of East Sussex Trading Standards, Eat@TheStade and the Hastings Observer, who all played a part in making the day such a success.

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