Sophistikaty's Hair and Beauty's Christmas angel appeal

Katy Denton, owner of Sophistikaty’s Hair and Beauty in Prudhoe, will continue her annual tradition of an 'angel tree' for Action for Children.

The salon asks businesses to put angel 'baubles', of paper or cardboard, on their Christmas trees in-store. The angels will have genders and ages between 0-19; people then donate a gift suitable for said angel.

Gifts need to be unwrapped and delivered to Sophistikaty's salon by 3pm on Saturday, December 14.

Katy with an angel outside Hexham Abbey (Image: Supplied)

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"Not all kids have families and homes and to go without a Christmas gift on Christmas Day is just heartbreaking," she said.

The appeal has gone from strength to strength, with the first year seeing approximately 50 businesses getting involved in the appeal.

Around 80 got involved last year, which also included schools and nurseries.

Some businesses to have pledged support include Prudhoe Castle First School, Dr Syntax, Essity, Hexham Abbey, Robson Print, Corbridge's Watling Coffee House, and Jan's Kitchen in Ponteland.

"This year we're hoping for bigger, we've had a huge amount of support already," Katy said.

"We've created little angels made from card and string so they're effectively a bauble. Each angel has a gender and an age between 0-19 and these can be found on Christmas trees and displays around local businesses, from Whitley Bay right through to Hexham.

"The businesses' customer will take an angel of their choice, whether it be a girl who's four or a boy who's 16 and then buy or donate that angel a gift. We've got a deadline of Saturday, December 14 for all donations to be in and then on Monday (December 16), we'll take them to Action for Children which distributes them everywhere they need to be.

"We've had thousands and thousands of gifts over the last two years, anything from toiletries to newborn baby grows and books."

Katy added presents for older children are also important and could be anything from makeup sets to Amazon vouchers.

The appeal has changed slightly this year to accept good-quality second-hand donations.

"We can accept anything second-hand in good condition. We can't accept second-hand electrical items and Action for Children encourages no toy guns, darts or anything that could be deemed dangerous.

"There's a huge community spirit wherever we've done it, whether in Hexham or Prudhoe, everyone clubs together and it's no cost to the business. We produce the angels, we create them and deliver them. All we ask them to do is have a few angels on their trees or displays for their customers to take.

"Last year I had to have a store room for all the gifts, there were thousands. The more businesses we can get involved, the more kids will be able to wake up on Christmas Day with a gift they wouldn't normally have."