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'Wrapathon' of 25,000 gifts for Ukrainian children

BBC Volunteers standing round a table indoors wrapping gifts to be sent to Ukraine. They are all women, and on the table is red coloured festive wrapping paperBBC
About 25,000 Christmas presents are being wrapped by volunteers at three sites

People across the UK have wrapped about 25,000 Christmas presents to be delivered to young people in Ukraine.

Volunteers in Swindon, Bath and Ipswich joined a "wrapathon" organised by The Plant and Hire Aid Alliance.

This is the event's third year, with about 45,000 gifts sent to children in Ukraine since it began.

"A lot of people are now seeing less about Ukraine on the news but the suffering continues and it's important we don't forget them," said Jeremy Fish, CEO of Ardent Hire Solutions and founding member of The Plant & Hire Aid Alliance.

Jeremy Fish Jeremy Fish wearing an orange hi-vis vest and cap while sitting in a yellow diggerJeremy Fish
Jeremy Fish is the founder of The Plant & Hire Aid Alliance, which runs the events.

"We're a humanitarian organisation. We try and bring a bit of comfort and joy to children and families. We've got to do something," he added.

Mr Fish said he came up with the idea after driving a van of humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian border in February 2022.

He and his company have since organised and delivered several more humanitarian aid packages, including generators to power water treatment and medical facilities.

Aid is handed over to Rotary Clubs in Ukraine on the border and taken across.

"Eventually someone said, what about Christmas presents," said Mr Fish.

"Lots of people donated presents and chipped in with gifts but said you'll have to wrap them and it's just grown from there."

The Ipswich wrapathon took place on Saturday in Claydon High School, while in Swindon volunteers gathered at the Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership, where a second event will be held on Sunday.

In Bath the wrapathon took place at Oldfield Park Scala.

A large room is pictured with many boxes and bags of gifts visible on the bare floor. Dozens of people are also visible packing presents and talking to each other. The walls are white and have porthole-style windows
Thousands of donated presents have been wrapped in the three locations

"We need a lot of people, a lot of wrapping paper, a lot of Sellotape and a lot of scissors" said Mr Fish.

"Hopefully everyone will go home with a feeling that they've done something nice for children.

"We often get photos back showing children unwrapping the presents and the joy on their faces makes it all worthwhile," he added.

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