Business in the Community has teamed up with 13 local charities and community organisations to run its annual Christmas employee giving campaign.

Now businesses in Birmingham and the Black Country are being urged to sign up to the campaign by encouraging their employees to get together and organise a party or collect inexpensive items to help people who receive few gifts or celebrations during the festive season.

Run by Cares – the national employee volunteering initiative of Business in the Community which gives employers the chance to make a positive impact in the community – the campaign is free to join and open to all businesses and organisations.

Among those who stand to benefit from the campaign are people who are homeless, young carers, isolated older people, refugees and young people leaving the care system.

Among the Birmingham and Black Country charities and organisations supporting this year’s campaign are; Acorns Children’s Hospice, Age Concern, Boys Brigade, Narthex Sparkhill, Action for Children, Salvation Army, Walsall Domestic Violence Forum and SIFA Fireside.

The campaign will particularly appeal to employees who prefer to make charitable donations rather than sending individual or corporate Christmas cards.

Staff can choose which charity they want to support from a shortlist and then collect small items such as toys, clothes, toiletries, baby goods or food which are then distributed in packs to those in need.

New this year, charities are also asking for help with organising Christmas parties for people who otherwise have few chances to get together for a festive celebration.

Joan Cockburn, senior relationship manager at Business in the Community said: “ This has been an anxious year for many people and it’s more important than ever that business finds effective ways of supporting people and communities in need.

“Our Christmas employee giving campaign is a simple way for employees to volunteer and make a difference by showing vulnerable people that someone remembers and cares about them. I urge as many businesses as possible to take part’.

Nigel Brookhouse, project and development manager at Narthex Sparkhill, a charitable organisation working to promote inter cultural harmony said, “Individuals and organisations getting involved in this campaign to make a huge difference to the people we work with. You are sending out a message that shows there are people who really do care. It means so much.”