Barnstaple school girl’s generous gesture for other children at Christmastime

A Barnstaple teenager who is keen to help other children has made a special visit to the children’s ward at North Devon District Hospital.

Mila-Monroe Gore, aged 13, organised an appeal for selection boxes to take to the Caroline Thorpe Ward in Barnstaple on Christmas Eve.

The Park School pupil, who has recently been crowned Junior Miss Devon for the second time, has already done a great deal of community work and she wanted to do something for children who are in hospital over Christmas.

Mila said she felt that being unwell and away from home at that time of year must be incredibly hard and added: “Christmas is meant to be a happy time and I felt sad thinking about children who have to spend it in hospital instead of at home with their families.”

With help from mum Connie, the appeal was shared on social media, and two local businesses very kindly donated money which was used to buy the selection boxes plus, Mila’s classmates and her tutor at Park School donated selection boxes themselves.

The boxes were delivered by Mila and Connie on Christmas Eve for children on the ward as well as their siblings and even included gluten and dairy-free options.

Mila is passionate about representing Barnstaple and Devon and is currently preparing to represent Devon at the national finals of the UK National Miss Pageant later in 2026.

READ NEXT: Can you help Barnstaple’s Mila shine on the national stage?