Ryan Batt has been nominated for an award for his dedication to helping others
Ryan Batt, 42, from Kirkdale, who has got involved in a shoebox appeal to help people less fortunate than himself(Image: Handout )
A Liverpool man has turned the struggles he’s faced in his own life into a mission to help disadvantaged and homeless people in Merseyside. Ryan Batt from Kirkdale, has collected items and campaigned on behalf of the Shoebox Full of Love Appeal for the past four years.
Ryan, 42, who has a learning disability and is supported by the charity Person Shaped Support (PSS), said 2025 has been his most successful year to date. Facilitated by the team at PSS as part of their Making Days service, he wrote and performed his own poem to encourage donations.
The Shoebox full of love appeal aims to help vulnerable men, women and children across Merseyside by collecting bags or shoeboxes filled with life’s essentials. Ryan has collected 43 different bags for children, women and men alongside three bags of clothing.
Ryan told the ECHO: “I’m a proud Scouser and I want to help as many people across Merseyside as possible. I know what it’s like to have nothing. I’ve had struggles in my own life. Sometimes life can be cruel, which is why everyone should help everyone.
“I started collecting donations in 2022 after seeing people living on the streets and living in tents. When I see homeless people, my heart breaks. They might not have anywhere safe to go or feel like they don’t have a voice to say, ‘help me’. It’s important to help people who are less fortunate. You can make a difference to people’s lives.
“It makes me feel happy to know that when kids come down the stairs on Christmas morning, and there would have been nothing there under the tree, now they might have a present to open.”
Ryan Batt pictured with shoebox appeal staff.
Run by a small team of three volunteers, the Shoebox Full of Love Appeal has been helping disadvantaged and homeless people for over 10 years. What started as a small appeal for gifts like warm socks, toiletries and food for the homeless in Liverpool, has now expanded to the Wirral, St Helens and Southport.
They’ve also been able to widen the appeal to include Christmas gifts for children, alongside giving donations to organisations that support people who might be accessing food banks, getting domestic abuse support or adults and children living in temporary accommodation.
Sarah, from Shoebox Full of Love Appeal, said: “It’s an absolute privilege to run the appeal each year and we’re so grateful to everyone at PSS. It’s the absolute highlight of the appeal to come and see Ryan and his friends at PSS. They make the magic of Christmas happen.”
The Shoebox Full of Love team have nominated Ryan for the BBC North West Christmas Star award, in recognition of all of his hard work and dedication to helping others.
Tessa Dunbavin, programme coordinator at Making Days, told the ECHO: “Whether he makes the shortlist for the award or not, it’s important that we celebrate what Ryan does. Ryan came to me a couple of years ago to say that he wanted to do something to help the homeless so we contacted the Shoebox Full of Love Appeal to ask how we could get involved. It really snowballed from there.
“Ryan has a real social conscience and he’s passionate about helping people who are less fortunate than himself. He really champions the work that the appeal does and it’s very important to him to feel that he can help and give back to his community.”
Rachel Clark, PSS communications officer, added: “It’s something we’ll always continue to do now. Each year Ryan always wants it to be bigger and better than the last.”
Ryan’s poem can be viewed on the PSS Instagram or Facebook
More information about the Shoebox Full of Love Appeal is available on their Facebook Page