Sutton shoppers urged to support children’s ward at King's Mill Hospital

Idlewells Shopping Centre in Sutton has reopened its donation station to collect toys and craft activities, which will be given to patients in the children’s ward at Sutton’s King’s Mill Hospital during the festive period.

This collection is the second to take place this year in the centre’s new donation station, which was introduced at the start of the summer holidays, collecting new and secondhand school uniforms.

It will now be open to collect new toys, games and craft activities such as crayons, felt tip pens and colouring books for the children’s ward at King’s Mill.

Stephen Salisbury, centre manager, said “This is important to us as we want to ensure the children at King’s Mill have a great Christmas.

“We were grateful to the community for supporting our last collection and hope our shoppers will join us in spreading happiness to children who unfortunately find themselves in hospital at Christmas time.

“We hope the toys, games and activities will help make their days a little brighter.”

Soft toys, such as teddies, cannot be accepted, nor can secondhand donations, due to hospital hygiene regulations.

Joy Wilson, community involvement co-ordinator at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said “Children’s services at King’s Mill are delighted at the kind offer from Idlewells to hold a collection for children attending for treatment at our hospital over the festive season.

“Our patients and their families will be truly grateful for this thoughtful gesture.”

The donation station is opposite JD Sports in Idlewell. Donations can be made until the end of November.