Pubs Unite to Help Tsunami Kids

Marking the 5th Anniversary of the Boxing Day Disaster

LONDON, December 23 - Fifty local pubs have joined forces to launch a new charity campaign
called 'Project Re-Gift'. Aimed at helping orphans in Thailand on the fifth
anniversary of the Tsunami, the campaign also benefits disadvantaged kids
across the UK.

From Newcastle to Norwich, the pubs are calling for people to bring in
unsuitable children's Christmas gifts. Half will go to 'KidsOut' which runs a
Toy Box Scheme for children fleeing domestic violence in the UK. The rest
will be taken to the Baan Tharn Namchai Orphanage, home to Tsunami Orphans in
Khao Lak, Thailand.

With so many family and friends wanting to play Santa this Christmas,
there's no doubt that some of gifts received will be a little off the mark!
In fact, parents admit that unwanted presents are as much a part of Christmas
as overcooked sprouts. Mums and Dads confirmed that a fifth of gifts received
by kids were unsuitable or duplicate. Of these, almost a third (30%) were not
age appropriate and 6% of gifts were not even taken out of the box!* So
whilst our little ones might have been less than thrilled when they unwrapped
these gifts, they could make perfect presents for other children.

Each of the fifty pubs will have a collection point where people can hand
in their presents. All items must be brand new and everything is appreciated
from a single teddy bear to a bag filled with goodies.

Denise & Les Strettle, Managers at the Cock & Dragon pub in Cockfosters
explain: "Instead of stuffing unwanted presents in the back of the cupboard
to collect dust, we're urging people to do something great with gifts that
aren't quite right for you, but could be for someone else. 'Re-gifting' is a
fun way to recycle that's good for the planet too."

As well as Project Re-Gift, the pubs have set themselves a fundraising
target of GBP30,000 to support the work at the Thai Orphanage.

Accompanying high res images available. Please email
pr@orchidgroup.co.uk.

A list of the 50 participating pubs can be found at:
projectregift.co.uk/Thepubs.aspx

    * Online survey of 500 parents in the UK, November 2009.

    - Baan Tharn Namchai Orphanage - www.thaichildrenstrust.org.uk.
      Registered charity no 1085407
    - KidsOut - www.kidsout.org.uk. Registered charity no 1075789

    Contact: Katherine Sparkes - pr@orchidgroup.co.uk - +44(0)117-968-80-90

Contact: Katherine Sparkes - pr at orchidgroup.co.uk - +44(0)117-968-80-90