Chamber Training supports The Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal to bring festive joy to Coventry children
Chamber Training apprentices have spread Christmas cheer this December by supporting The Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Present Appeal, helping ensure children across Coventry receive a gift to open this festive season.
Throughout November, apprentices and staff enthusiastically collected new, unwrapped toys and gifts to support local families who may otherwise have struggled at Christmas. Most notably, 14 Level 2 hairdressing apprentices led the effort, collecting and organising donations into seven large, categorised boxes of toys and gifts. The donations were delivered to The Salvation Army in Coventry City Centre, where the team was welcomed by Community Programme Manager, Gemma Potter.
A group of the hairdressing apprentices attended the delivery in full festive attire, complete with antlers and Christmas jumpers, bringing plenty of seasonal spirit as they handed over their boxes of collected gifts. Their involvement showcased the pride and enthusiasm they felt in contributing to their community.
Katie Lumb, Lead Recruitment Advisor at Chamber Training, said: “Supporting the Salvation Army felt like a natural choice for us as they are local to Coventry and we wanted to make a difference to children in our community this festive season.
The response from our apprentices has been fantastic, they’ve shown genuine passion for helping others, and it’s rewarding to see them gain a sense of giving back.”
One apprentice reflected: “I never really thought that some children don’t get anything at Christmas. Being involved in this has really opened my eyes and made me feel like I’ve given something back.”
The project also offered apprentices valuable opportunities to develop teamwork, organisational skills, and a deeper understanding of the challenges local families face.
Macy Barton, Recruitment Advisor at Chamber Training who helped organise the gift boxes, added: “It was amazing to see everyone getting involved, all to make a difference to children in Coventry.”
Gemma Potter, a representative of The Salvation Army highlighted the importance of the appeal: “The Christmas Present Appeal allows us to support children and families who might otherwise go without at Christmas.
"Last year, we helped 1,700 children in Coventry, and we anticipate similar demand this year. Support from organisations like Chamber Training is vital as it enables us to reach more children and ensure every gift is safe, high quality, and given with care.”
Popular donations included dolls, books, games, puzzles, warm winter accessories, stationery, and teen-friendly items such as cosmetics and vouchers. All items were required to be new and unwrapped, ensuring every child received a meaningful gift appropriate for their age.
When asked what Christmas spirit means in the context of this project, Gemma added: “It’s about ensuring as many people as possible can have a happy, festive smile on their face. Bringing joy to people at Christmas is at the heart of what we do, and donations like these make a real difference in children’s lives.”
Chamber Training’s involvement forms part of its ongoing commitment to supporting Coventry and Warwickshire’s communities and encouraging apprentices to participate in meaningful charitable projects. The organisation extends thanks to all staff, apprentices, and community members who donated, helping ensure more families experienced joy and relief this festive season.
For more information about The Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeal, please contact The Salvation Army at coventry.city.corps@salvationarmy.org.uk or visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/coventry-city
For more information on Chamber Training, please visit: https://www.cw-chambertraining.co.uk/