Christmas came early for youngsters in Barrhead when Santa arrived to hand out gifts.

The seasonal treat was made possible thanks to generous management and staff at Barrhead Housing Association (BHA), who teamed up with Cash for Kids for the special festive giveaway.

Jennifer McCann, customer services manager for BHA, said it had applied to the Radio Clyde charity for vouchers to give out to families who are feeling the pinch in the run-up to Christmas.

She told the Barrhead News: “A total of 132 of our applications were successful.

“These consisted of £25 vouchers, totalling £3,300, which we were delighted to receive.

“The association held a celebration at Auchenback Resource Centre to hand out the vouchers to children who could make it along.

“Up to 30 children came along and families who couldn’t make it have been able to pick up their vouchers at our office.

“The kids were excited to see Santa and the looks on their faces spoke volumes.”

Jennifer said the association had identified families who have struggled financially during the year and would benefit from a little help at Christmas.

“These are people who we felt were in genuine need,” she added. “We have been running the project for five or six years and, once again, it has been very successful.”

In addition to the vouchers, the children received selection boxes, which were specially gifted by the housing association.

BHA is a key provider of social rented housing in East Renfrewshire.
Cash for Kids has as its overall objective the relief of poverty amongst children who are in need due to ill-health, disability or other disadvantage.

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