Christmas charity appeal: Guardian and Observer writers take to the phones

Want to speak to Alan Rusbridger? Or get fashion tips from Hadley Freeman? Talk politics with Polly Toynbee, football with Richard Williams or discuss films with Peter Bradshaw? Some of the Guardian and Observer's best-known writers and editors will be answering the phones on Saturday 17 December to chat and take your donations for this year's charity appeal. This year, we are raising money for eight charities that specialise in helping disadvantaged young people to turn around their lives. To engage and thrive, young people say they need resources and support to help them develop life skills and build confidence. They want to get a job, be offered alternatives to gangs or addiction. They want support for vulnerable families. They are hungry for training, education, youth clubs, arts and sports opportunities, and mentoring advice. All the charities we have chosen to support this year are dedicated to working with young people who have found it hard to develop and express themselves, or who have to varying degrees become marginalised by or excluded from the communities in which they live. These charities have been chosen for their demonstrable success in helping to turn around the lives of young people they work with. Over the past few weeks we've been publishing reports and case studies about the amazing work done by the individual charities. Please take a moment to ring in and make a donation. Even a small amount of money will help some of the country's most excluded young people to start turning their lives around. Call 020 3353 4368 . Or if lines are busy, click here to donate online. Lines will be open between 10am and 7pm. The Guardian and Observer staff who will be waiting for your call are: Alan Rusbridger – Guardian editor Amelia Gentleman – features writer Amelia Hill – special investigations correspondent Andrew Sparrow – senior political correspondent Barry Glendenning – deputy sports editor Catherine Bennett – Observer columnist Dan Roberts – national editor Dan Sabbagh – head of media and technology Deborah Orr – Guardian columnist Denis Campbell – health correspondent Esther Addley – senior news writer Grace Dent – Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman – Guardian columnist Hugh Muir – diary editor Jane Martinson – women's editor Jessica Shepherd – education correspondent John Crace – features writer Jon Henley – features writer John Mulholland – Observer editor Jon Ronson – Journalist and author Katharine Viner – Guardian deputy editor Libby Brooks – deputy comment editor Lisa Allardice – editor, Guardian Review Lucy Mangan – Guardian columnist Lucy Siegle – Observer columnist Malik Meer – features editor Merope Mills – editor, Guardian Weekend Patrick Butler – head of Society, Health and Education Paul Lewis – special projects editor Paul MacInnes – editor, The Guide Peter Bradshaw – film critic, Guardian Polly Curtis – Whitehall correspondent Polly Toynbee – Guardian columnist Richard Williams – chief sports writer Simon Hattenstone – feature writer Simon Hoggart – writer and parliamentary sketchwriter Simon Rogers – editor, Guardian Datastore and Datablog Stephen Moss – feature writer Tim Dowling – Guardian columnist Tracy McVeigh – Observer writer Zoe Williams – Guardian columnist