Shaun Emerson from Stanhope who founded and runs 123 Help4Famiy’s meets Jane Ruffer CEO of the Auckland Project. Photo Credit: Clayton Lucas.
The Auckland Project has donated toys, clothing and food to support families across County Durham and Darlington ahead of Christmas, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to the community.
Donations were delivered to The Angel Trust and 123help4familys, helping bring joy to families in need this Christmas.
Jane Ruffer helped deliver the donations, which were split between the two charities. The donations also included family tickets to AGLOW, The Auckland Project’s 1.5-mile festive light trail set within the historic grounds of Auckland Palace.
The donation supported The Angel Trust’s Toy Appeal, now in its fifth year. In 2024, more than 12,500 items were distributed to children of all age groups across County Durham and Darlington, with 15,000 already collected for 2025.
Alongside toys, The Auckland Project continues to support The Angel Trust year-round by donating surplus produce from its 17th-century Walled Garden. The charity has also recently benefited from donated plants and herbs to support the opening of its new Beehive Café in Bishop Auckland.
Items from The Auckland Project included colouring books, toys, hygiene products, hats, scarves, gloves, food, and blankets. Weardale Railway, which was saved from administration by The Auckland Project in 2020, added soft toys, train sets, and colouring books.
The Angel Trust in Bishop Auckland is a local charity that supports the County Durham and Darlington community by providing emergency aid (food bank, essential items), financial help (benefit advice, CV writing), mental wellbeing, and community spaces like their Safe Night Hub for vulnerable people, all while aiming to improve local life through community development, poverty relief, and promoting good citizenship, funded partly by ventures like the Beehive Coffee Shop.
Stanhope-based charity 123help4familys supports families experiencing poverty, women’s refuges, ex-military personnel, the elderly and those facing illness or domestic abuse. The charity provides everything from food parcels and furniture to practical and emotional support for some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
Jane Ruffer, CEO at The Auckland Project, said: “Christmas is about community, kindness and connection, and we believe those values should be felt by everyone. We’re proud to support The Angel Trust and 123help5familys, whose teams work tirelessly throughout the year to support families facing really testing times.
“By donating toys, clothing, food and experiences such as AGLOW, we hope to bring moments of fun and togetherness to children and parents at what can be an especially difficult time of year. Supporting our local community is central to our mission, and we remain committed to working alongside grassroots charities to help ensure people across Bishop Auckland, County Durham and Darlington feel supported, valued and connected — not just at Christmas, but all year round.”
Claire Gibbons, General Manager at Weardale Railway, said: “As a railway rooted in the heart of Weardale, supporting local families and charities is incredibly important to us. Being part of this donation is a chance to share a little festive magic and to help ensure children across the region have something special to enjoy this Christmas. We’re proud to play our part in supporting the communities that continue to support us.”
Clair McGregor, CEO at The Angel Trust, said: “The generosity shown by The Auckland Project makes a real difference to the families we support. Every toy, food donation and gesture of kindness helps ensure children across County Durham and Darlington can experience the joy of Christmas.”
Shaun Emerson, founder of 123help4familys, said: “Support like this helps us reach more families and individuals who are struggling right now – particularly when referrals to charities like ours are increasing by the day. It’s about more than donations – it’s about showing people that their community cares.”
The Auckland Project has also recently welcomed families supported by Home-Start Teesside to AGLOW, where they explored the light trail, met Santa in Santa’s Village and toasted marshmallows around a fire pit.
The Auckland Project’s community work also includes Hearth, a cultural and social regeneration programme for Bishop Auckland, in partnership with SHED.
Hearth aims to connect local people with the town’s cultural life, rooted in warmth, gathering, and belonging. It creates welcoming opportunities for families, young people and individuals to come together through creativity, care and shared experiences, reinforcing The Auckland Project’s long-term commitment to supporting the people of Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area.
Founded in 2012 by Jonathan and Jane Ruffer, The Auckland Project is working to transform Bishop Auckland into a thriving destination for heritage, culture and community. Alongside AGLOW, its attractions — including Auckland Palace, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery and the multi-award-winning Faith Museum — are open Wednesday to Sunday for visitors looking to make a full day out.
AGLOW takes place from 21 November to 31 December 2025 (except Christmas Day). Tickets start at £13.50. Free parking is provided, and there are both an Accessible Route and sensory-friendly sessions to ensure inclusive access for all visitors. For more details or to book tickets, contact or visit https://aucklandaglow.org/.
Clair Gibbons, Manager of the Weardale Railway, who lives in Wolsingham, with Shaun Emerson. Photo by Clayton Lewis.
