MORE children in Blackbird Leys living in poverty will be able to rely on art to express their needs and emotions thanks to a donation from Burger King.

Oxford charity Art Room has been given funding to run classes for deprived children across Blackbird Academy Trust schools for three years.

The charity runs art sessions four days a week at one of the Academy’s schools, Orchard Meadow Primary, but can now expand.

Development manager Kate Longworth said: “We want to run the sessions, which are for up to eight children at a time, for five days a week and in the Academy’s other schools, Pegasus Primary School and Windale Primary School.”

Our top stories

The money, donated by the Burger King at Oxford Retail Park, Cowley, will go towards staffing and covering the costs of art materials.

As well as funding the scheme, Burger King will display a rainbow model created by pupils in the restaurant.

Ms Longworth said: “The schools are in an area of significant deprivation and there are children there facing very difficult circumstances.

“The work that we do enables them to have the self-confidence and the self-esteem to own and express their emotions and better deal with it in their everyday lives.”


Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.