GENEROSITY from residents across West Berkshire has once again exceeded expectations to help domestic abuse victims with the ‘Giving Tree’.

The initiative is arranged by West Berkshire Council's Building Communities Together Team as part of its ongoing work, alongside partner organisations, to help protect and care for victims of abuse across the district.

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The Giving Tree was launched on December 3 as part of the worldwide White Ribbon Campaign, which aims to eliminate violence against women and children.

The tree allows local people to take gift tags with a child's age from the Christmas tree and donate gifts, vouchers, money, or experiences, for the recipient to enjoy.

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This year the Giving Tree extended its reach across West Berkshire to include trees at Tilehurst Parish Council and Hungerford Hub and Library meaning more people were involved in the gift of giving.

The act of kindness has truly gripped the hearts of many people across West Berkshire as there was an overwhelming 187 presents donated this year.

Jade Wilder, community coordinator for the Building Communities Together Team at West Berkshire Council, said: “The joy that each and every present will be bringing this Christmas to victims of domestic abuse across West Berkshire cannot possibly be put into words.

“We have had great success this year by expanding our ‘Giving Tree’ across three locations which has in turn contributed to the astounding number of presents received. The generosity has gone above and beyond anything we could have anticipated with gift bags filled with clothes, toys and a variety of vouchers for the cinema, hairdressers, restaurants and other stores.

“This has brought such happiness and hope to those who need it, so thank you to all the residents within our community who took the time to purchase a gift because it couldn’t have been this successful without you."

A spokesperson from West Berkshire Domestic Abuse Service, provided by A2Dominion, said: “I just wanted to say a massive thank you to both the Building Communities Together team and everyone in West Berks that took the time and energy to go and buy a present and a gift bag and return it.

"We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people and our clients have been awestruck and very emotional when we told them what you'd done.

"For some it means the difference between presents and food, for others it goes a long way to show that there are still good people around and it has helped relieve a huge stress from them."

Vickie Keiller, domestic abuse practitioner for Children and Family Services at West Berkshire Council said: "It has been an absolute pleasure to be able to deliver some of the exceptionally generous ‘Giving Tree’ gifts this year.

"We have seen some big smiles and been told how ‘kind, caring, and thoughtful’ those receiving the gifts have found them."