Helen McArdle CBE supports Hope for Christmas

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Helen McArdle CBE has made a donation to our Hope for Christmas Appeal so that we can send parcels to the children, young people and families we work with.

Helen and her husband Michael wanted to help after what has been a tough year for so many.

Mrs McArdle said:

“Christmas should be a special time of year for every child but as we know, the heart-breaking reality is that this isn’t the case for so many families, particularly after the devastating effects of COVID-19.”

 

“I love to spread joy during the festive season, so when I heard about your ‘Hope for Christmas’ campaign I was compelled to get involved and help families in the North East to have a happier Christmas and some hope for the future.”

The business woman is a long-time supporter of Children North East and earlier in the year made a £50,000 donation to our urgent Covid-19 appeal.

Children North East interim Chief Executive, Leigh Elliott, said the charity was very grateful to Mrs McArdle. “Child poverty rates in the North East of England are the worst in the country outside London and this is predicted to worsen in the wake of this dreadful pandemic. This is a great example of local philanthropy at work and, on behalf of our beneficiaries, I’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude for this generous Christmas gift.”

Mrs McArdle is best known for her work in the North East’s care industry having founded Helen McArdle Care and a chain of nurseries.

In 2017 she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the North East Business Executive of the Year Awards, and in 2015 was awarded a CBE for services to the care home industry and the local community.

If you’d like to support Hope for Christmas and help babies, children and young people in the North East, there are more details here.