The Club has made its annual donation of children’s toys to the Local Buyers Club’s Winter Toy Appeal for local young people and families experiencing hardship in Haringey.
We are taking a fresh approach to our annual Christmas toy deliveries – usually made to hospitals – with players from the men’s first team visiting various youth centres across Haringey to deliver toys and spend time with children.
James Maddison and Brandon Austin visited Project 2020, an off-road hub in Northumberland Park that offers engagement activities for young people during the week. The pair participated in a series of light-hearted children’s games before visiting the music studio where regular music workshops are hosted at the hub.
Brennan Johnson and Alfie Whiteman joined the annual Christmas Party at Somerford Grove Adventure Playground, an area built and designed by local children that provides a safe space for young people to enjoy a range of activities, including climbing frames and slides.
Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall visited Broadwater Farm Children’s Centre for an arts and crafts session and table tennis competition before making their donation of toys to the young people experiencing hardship.
Finally, Archie Gray and Djed Spence visited Bruce Grove Youth Centre, participating in a wide range of activities including pool, music, football and table tennis, before handing out surprise gifts to attendees.
James Maddison said: “It always brings me so much satisfaction and joy to see the smiles on kids’ faces when we come down to local youth centres like these. I love Christmas and doing these events, meeting the kids, and being able to share in moments of joy during such a busy time of year.”
Brennan Johnson said: “Community is such an important part of the Club so it’s really important we do stuff like this. Somerford Grove Adventure Playground is so close to the stadium so we always give back whenever we can. The kids were so excited but we were really excited to see them too! They’re great kids and I’m just so happy to be involved.”
Djed Spence said: “It’s really good to be here and help those less fortunate. Christmas is a special time of year when you’re young and it’s great we can put some smiles on faces. What the youth centre does is really important, keeping kids off the streets and providing them with positive activities – it brings the whole community together.”
Dejan Kulusevki added: “Spending time with the kids is so important, it is a big honour for me. Things like this are what really matter, putting smiles on faces before Christmas. It means something for us players too.”
> Things like this are what really matter, putting smiles on faces before Christmas. It means something for us players too.
Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and ward councillor for Northumberland Park, Cllr Ajda Ovat, said: “As the mother of an avid, young Spurs fan, I know only too well just what an enthralling and exciting experience today will have been for our children and young people in Haringey.
“I’d like to thank the Spurs players for taking time out of their busy schedules to support our young people, as well as Tottenham Hotspur for their generous donations to the Local Buyers Club’s Winter Toy Appeal.
“With the cost-of-living crisis affecting so many families across Haringey, this kind act of generosity will mean so much to our young people.
“What a fantastic way to kick off the seasonal festivities in our borough!”
Women’s first team players **[Bethany England, Jess Naz and Luana Buhler recently visited Craig Park Youth Centre](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/december/spurs-women-players-kick-off-club-s-toy-delivery-drive-ahead-of-christmas/)** in Enfield to make toy donations, while the Club has also made foodbank donations and a delivery of hampers to hospital staff as part of our programme of Christmas community support.
Furthermore, the Club already became the inaugural sporting partner of the Multibank Christmas Campaign, with players, staff and fans donating essential products to combat the issue of hygiene poverty across our communities.