![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS390561048.jpg\")
Ryan Batt, 42, from Kirkdale, who has got involved in a shoebox appeal to help people less fortunate than himself(Image: Handout )<\/p>\nRyan Batt has been nominated for an award for his dedication to helping othersRyan Batt, 42, from Kirkdale, who has got involved in a shoebox appeal to help people less fortunate than himself(Image: Handout )<\/p>\n
A Liverpool man has turned the struggles he\u2019s faced in his own life into a mission to help disadvantaged and homeless people in Merseyside. Ryan Batt from Kirkdale<\/a>, has collected items and campaigned on behalf of the Shoebox Full of Love Appeal for the past four years.<\/p>\n Ryan, 42, who has a learning disability and is supported by the charity Person Shaped Support<\/a> (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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Ryan told the ECHO<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019m a proud Scouser and I want to help as many people across Merseyside as possible. I know what it\u2019s like to have nothing. I\u2019ve had struggles in my own life. Sometimes life can be cruel, which is why everyone should help everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2019t have a voice to say, \u2018help me\u2019. It\u2019s important to help people who are less fortunate. You can make a difference to people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, St Helens<\/a> and Southport<\/a>.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n Sarah, from Shoebox Full of Love Appeal, said: \u201cIt\u2019s an absolute privilege to run the appeal each year and we\u2019re so grateful to everyone at PSS. It\u2019s the absolute highlight of the appeal to come and see Ryan and his friends at PSS. They make the magic of Christmas happen.\u201d<\/p>\n The Shoebox Full of Love team have nominated Ryan for the BBC<\/a> North West Christmas Star award, in recognition of all of his hard work and dedication to helping others.<\/p>\n Tessa Dunbavin, programme coordinator at Making Days, told the ECHO: \u201cWhether he makes the shortlist for the award or not, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cRyan has a real social conscience and he\u2019s passionate about helping people who are less fortunate than himself. He really champions the work that the appeal does and it\u2019s very important to him to feel that he can help and give back to his community.”<\/p>\n Rachel Clark, PSS communications officer, added: \u201cIt\u2019s something we\u2019ll always continue to do now. Each year Ryan always wants it to be bigger and better than the last.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryan\u2019s poem can be viewed on the PSS Instagram<\/a> or Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n More information about the Shoebox Full of Love Appeal is available on their Facebook Page<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS390561045.jpg\")
Ryan Batt pictured with shoebox appeal staff.<\/p>\n