Leicestershire Cares has identified an agile way of continuing the great work delivered by our Collect 4 Christmas campaign a few weeks ago. We are looking for member businesses, partners, support groups and followers of Leicestershire Cares to pledge your support and get collecting and donating.
Lockdown 3 dashed the hopes of many school children who really needed the stability, refuge, access to meals, activity and socialisation that our education system provides on top of any learning. A comment that came up time and time again as we were distributing the Christmas #Togetherwecare bags was that children and young people were particularly feeling many micro-effects of the pandemic and their mental well-being had deteriorated.
So, with the schools looking to reopen and with Easter holidays approaching in a few weeks, we thought these children needed a boost and what better way to bring a smile is some festive chocolate, craft kit and activity pack in one of our Leicestershire Cares bags for life.
Leona Harris, Leicestershire Cares Community Development Coordinator who is leading the campaign said
It’s a real way for our member firms, partners, and supporters to show solidarity and empathy with our local children and hopefully see them being creative by using the activity packs and getting outside to use the sporty gifts.
Children and young people’s mental health has suffered with the lack of schooling, isolation from friends, and reduced access to sports and social activities. Their day structure, stability, worrying about household finances and general uncertainty about their immediate future have fuelled a pandemic of its own and mental well-being has deteriorated. Whilst we cannot turn the tide on this looming crisis directly, we can do what we are good at, and show our next generation that we are here to support and deliver a small gift to show we are thinking of them.
Our aim is to distribute as many bags as we can via our community groups and school contacts. A donation of £20 will provide 2 ‘Bags of Hope’ each containing some Easter crafts such as paint your own mug or Easter bag, cookie cutters, tic-tac-toe game, or colouring book. Activity items such as a ball, skipping rope or yo-yo are also encouraged. Plus, what most children… and adults want…. a chocolate egg, chocolate bunny or mini eggs.
Even with the vaccination program taking great strides to protect the more vulnerable, it may be many months before we can all feel some normalcy again. So, it is hoped that these gifts will help take their minds off this continuing crisis, even for a little while.
You can collect items and arrange to bring them to our offices during week commencing March 22nd or donate through our fundraising page www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/Bagsofhope or via the button below.
If you need any further information or have any questions, please contact us at communitydevelopment@leicestershirecares.co.uk or drop a line to Neetu Squire, Head of Community on Neetu@leicestershirecares.co.uk
If you would like to pledge your support, please email and let us know by March 11th if possible. We can then keep you up to date with this fabulous campaign.
