Young Swans spread charity cheer

Swansea City Under-18s helped bring a Christmas cheer to the Samaritans Purse Christmas Child Appeal on Tuesday night, December 3.

The young Swans helped with the checking and repacking of gift-filled shoe boxes that would then be sent to underprivileged children all over the world, in the hope that it will bring them some joy over the festive period.

The youngsters arrived at the packing warehouse in Fforestfach, where they were shown a video about the work of Operation Christmas Child by Warehouse Manager Judith Gilbody, and were later joined by Paul Houillebecq, the Samaritan's Regional Manager Wales, and the Marches.  

After watching the video, the scholars and their coaches set about checking, repacking and stacking the boxes onto pallets, ready for transportation all over the world.

At the end of the evening, one Swans starlet said: "To see the faces of the little children on the video light up as they opened their gift boxes, made the evening of packing worth while."

Swansea Academy Operations Manager Nigel Rees also said that the Academy players were so affected by the video, shown at the beginning of the evening, that they wanted to send gift boxes of their own.

Academy Chaplain Eirian Wyn was keen to thank the Swans youngsters and the Swansea staff for their wonderful job, and indeed their work ethic during the evening.

Meanwhile, apprentices, younger players and Academy staff attended a carol service at Seion Chapel in Morriston on Sunday, December 8.

During the service, the youngsters read passages from the Scriptures and joined in with the singing of carols.

Swansea City Chairman Huw Jenkins, who attended the service with his family, was delighted with the evening's events.