About River Kids
We support disadvantaged children to make sure they never go without.
Our history
River Kids was co-founded in October 2005 by Wendy Simpson and Donny Hughes. Both founders believed that West Lothian needed a charity which focused on benefiting disadvantaged local children and children’s groups.
The first fundraising event took place on 4 November 2005, via a bucket collection. From this, £600 was given to St. John’s Hospital and £100 given to a local child who was travelling to Japan for specialist treatment. From there, River Kids has grown from strength to strength and now celebrates its 20th birthday in 2025
River Kids was originally part of River FM, and its name derives from the radio station and from:
- River – chosen to represent the River Almond which flows through and winds its way around West Lothian.
- Kids – chosen to represent our desire to help this specific demographic.
Our objectives
We will build mutual relationships with local schools and other key parties to ensure our support network continues to grow.
We will run the West Lothian Toy Appeal all year round to ensure no child goes without on their birthday or at Christmas.
We will continually raise funds, donations and volunteer support to help deliver the West Lothian Toy Appeal.
We will keep sufficient funding set aside to support requests from social services and local schools for children’s curricular activities.
We will continue to position ourselves as the go-to charity within West Lothian for disadvantaged children and families that need support.
To achieve our long-term ambitions, we have set ourselves a series of objectives that will help us grow the scope and impact of what we do for our community.
River Kids is strengthened by partnerships with businesses, organisations and the wider community to ensure we deliver the right help to children and their families. Our partners share our commitment to making measurable change in young people’s lives.
If you’re interested in partnering with us or want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you.
What we do
1
Provision of clothing,
toys & household items
Through our referral system, we supply new and pre-loved clothing, shoes, toys and household items to families who are facing financial challenges, or through circumstance have little or no possessions.
2
Employment
opportunities
River Kids provide volunteering and employment opportunities for young people to ensure they have the best start in life.
3
Financial support
We connect families with financial support grants to ensure their children are not excluded from curricular or extracurricular events.
4
West Lothian Toy
Appeal
The cornerstone of our mission is the West Lothian Toy Appeal, which provides donated new toys and gifts for disadvantaged children at celebratory times of the year.
Our people
Nothing we accomplish is possible without the continued enthusiasm and support of our people. Our trustees oversee River Kids and ensure that we continue progressing towards our long-term objectives.
Stephen Newman
Charity Manager
Why did you join River Kids?
River Kids offers an opportunity to contribute positively to the reduction of child poverty in our society.
What do you want to see in the future for River Kids?
One of our objectives is to create opportunities for children to participate in extracurricular activities with their peers. This can be done via ‘small grants’ funded by River Kids. As a dad of two small children I am acutely aware of the benefits of enabling this access and believe these positive outcomes have considerable benefits for the whole family.
Jan Ward
Chairman & Trustee
Why did you join River Kids?
I’ve volunteered with River Kids on a number of occasions, helping out in the warehouse sorting through donations and also during its Breakfast with Santa events. This gave me a first hand look at the positive impact on the community.. But on a more personal level, having grown up in poverty myself, I understand the struggles of exclusion due to lack of means — no child should experience that.
What do you want to see in the future for River Kids?
I hope to see poverty eradicated in Scotland and no longer need our services. Until then, I want River Kids to be the go-to charity in West Lothian, working with other charities and services to support as many families as possible by building strong community relationships.
Matthew Stirling
Trustee
Why did you join River Kids?
I initially became involved with River Kids as I was looking for a local Children’s Charity to support. I decided on River Kids as it supported disadvantage children across the whole of West Lothian.
As I became heavily involved with River Kids I was asked to join the board as a Trustee.
What do you want to see in the future for River Kids?
I’d like to see River Kids expand the WLTA to ensure that every child in West Lothian not only receives toys at Christmas but on their birthdays too. I would also like to see us move into our forever home.
Neil Simpson
Treasurer & Trustee
Why did you join River Kids?
Reason for joining was after a long association with the charity since just after it’s inception, and seeing the great work it did I decided to join the Board of Trustees as Treasurer in 2017. I felt I could use my skills from a financial services background as well as other Third Sector volunteering experience to help the charity grow and support more people.
What do you want to see in the future for River Kids?
I want River Kids to keep supporting underprivileged children, giving them opportunities and direct support through community grants. I hope it becomes the go-to charity linking those in need with services and non profits. In the next 5 years, I’d love to see River Kids move into its own property, providing a safe space for our clients to meet and play.
Lesley Stirling
Trustee & Interim Secretary
Why did you join River Kids?
I initially became involved with River Kids for many years as a volunteer before being approached to become a Trustee. My background in HR filled a knowledge gap in the Charity’s Board of Trustees so I was happy to accept.
What do you want to see in the future for River Kids?
In an ideal world River Kids won’t exist in 5 years as Child Poverty will have been eradicated and there will no longer be a need for the Charity to exist but in the real world, I’d like to see the Charity expand to support more children of disadvantaged families across West Lothian and other areas of Scotland
Peter Martin
Trustee
Why did you join River Kids?
While working I spent a day volunteering at River Kids. I was so impressed by what it was doing and wanted to help. Having lived in West Lothian for over 30 years and bringing up two children in this region, I also liked the fact that all the support & resources generated by the Charity was being invested in the local community.
What do you want to see in the future for River Kids?
Being more effective in reaching all disadvantaged children and their families in West Lothian and having even greater resources to provide them will all the support they need.
Stephen Miles
Trustee
Why did you join River Kids?
What do you want to see in the future for River Kids?
Mhairi Hall
Trustee
Why did you join River Kids?
I worked for many years in Social Care in West Lothian and often referred and requested support from River Kids to help the families I worked with. It therefore seemed a natural progression when I stopped working to join the Board of Trustees, to use my knowledge and understanding of the challenges that affect families in West Lothian.
What do you want to see in the future for River Kids?
I would like to see child poverty eradicated in West Lothian however as that is unlikely, I will settle for an increase in rolling out our grant scheme to meet the needs of as many children as possible in West Lothian.
