intu Milton Keynes have got Christmas all wrapped up!

The intu Milton Keynes and Cornerstone Christmas Appeal gift wrap service was a huge success last year with more than 3,500 presents coated in colourful paper and sticky tape; and almost £9,000 raised for last year’s charities.

This year, the service will kick off again on Black Friday, November 25, in the presence of the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr. Steve Coventry who will officially launch the service at 3.30pm.

It will be stationed next to the customer information desk (next to Debenhams) and available daily until Christmas Eve – for those last minute shoppers.

There are eleven charities involved this year, including; Advantage Africa, Age UK Milton Keynes, Hope for Hollie, Citizens Advice and Willen Hospice; intu will be providing all the wrapping paper for the service so 100% of the money raised will be given to the eleven charities involved.

The Cornerstone Christmas Appeal, now in its fifth year, is part of Christ the Cornerstone in the city centre.

“we are delighted that intu have invited us back for another year,” said appeal organiser Sam Crooks.

“Every penny matters to charities now they have so many demands. We are very lucky with how generous people are.”

To make sure everyone is feeling festive, there will also be local choirs performing daily on Central Boulevard from Thursday 8 December until Christmas Eve, as well as brass bands from Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard and Winslow.

Shelley Peppard, general manager at intu Milton Keynes, says: “Last year, we were thrilled with how well the gift-wrapping service went and it was a great way of raising money for many local charities. It is a great service to offer our shoppers who perhaps do not enjoy wrapping presents and for a small donation, volunteers will wrap gifts for them, ready to take home and put under the tree.”

Christmas is in full swing for intu with the launch of its national Christmas advert last week. The forty-five second, magical video is filled with brand new intu characters who will be making several appearances over the festive season and through the new year. Watch the intu Christmas video here: http://intu.co.uk/christmas