Newsman launches £300,000 appeal for his 'unique' neighbour

24 May 2006

Jon Snow gave the Post-Adoption Centre a selection of his ties to auction at the appeal launch

A CHARITY which helps families who have adopted a child - or given one up - enlisted the help of a famous face in its appeal to raise over £300,000.

The Post-Adoption Centre (PAC) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and has launched a campaign to raise £325,000 - so it can buy its own building in Torriano Mews, Kentish Town.

Broadcaster and journalist Jon Snow, a patron of PAC, who lives nearby in Kentish Town, helped begin the fundraising appeal.

At the official launch he said: "My first encounter with PAC came when they asked me to draw the winning tickets in their raffle.

"As I stuck my hand into what had only hours earlier - prior to the hasty application of some coloured paper - been a waste paper bin, I remember thinking to myself, 'these guys really do need all the help they can get'!

"But in all seriousness, I have been very honoured to have been given this special role... and it's very nice having them as neighbours too!

"PAC is a unique charity which does amazing work in providing vital post-adoption support services.

"I am asking you now to join me in supporting this campaign, so PAC can enjoy the kind of security and stability it has helped so many families and individuals achieve over the last 20 years." PAC is already based in Torriano Mews, renting from Barnardo's for a peppercorn rent, but it now has the opportunity to purchase the building.

About £5,000 was raised on the night through donations and an auction.

Goods sold included three of Mr Snow's ties and a signed God Save the Queen piece by artist Jamie Reid.

In addition, the charity had already raised £141,000 through donations and dipping into its reserves.

PAC information officer Robert Stuart said: "We provide support for everybody involved in adoption - adoptive parents who often find they are having more difficulties than they were anticipating, adopted adults who find they may have problems later on in life and birth parents who have lost their children through adoption.

"Otherwise a lot of those families would break up.

"People think that once a child has been adopted, it's the end of the story. But it's just the beginning.