CNJ COMMENT: Thanks for the money – and your seal of approval

Published: 23 December, 2010

DONATIONS to our Christmas Appeal this year have been more generous than ever before – the grant total is an astonishing £12,000. 

That grand total is mainly the sum of hundreds of contributions from a great sweep of readers as broad-ranging as the smiles with which the hampers and children's toys are being received.

But what distinguishes this year from others is that more people have banded together to hold money-raising events for the fund – and this, in our opinion, shows the extent to which the New Journal is recognised as a voice of the people of the borough.  

And when one considers the uncertain times we are living through, the economic difficulties, the fears for our children’s education, growing unemployment and the hazards facing the National Health Service, this increased generosity is all the more astonishing.

The Hamper Fund, originally launched by our predecessor, the Camden Journal in the late 1970s, has always been a reflection of the standing of the paper in the eyes of our readership.

As this grew from the 1990s, the growth of the fund steadily rose.

In the past few years the rate of growth has increased until this year’s record collection.

We thank all our readers who made donations big or small.

This newspaper – one of the few remaining independent weekly newspapers in Britain – holds that it is owned and answerable only to its readers and we regard this year’s record donation  as a seal of approval.