A youth club has raised more than £5,000, which will be used to feed more than 130 children a week.
Rose Hill Junior Youth Club, which is supported by housing association GreenSquareAccord, has been providing hot meals and fun activities for children and young people since 2011.
In recent weeks, the cost-of-living crisis has had an impact on the club as it has been receiving fewer donations of surplus food.
In light of this, it launched a crowdfunder called ‘Happy, Not Hungry!’ to raise money so they can continue to offer meals to local children.
The crowd funder has been successful and has so far exceeded its initial target of £3000, raising £5,615 at the time of this article’s publication.
It will be receiving donations until Monday, January 9 2023.
Rose Hill community worker Fran Gardner said: “Central to our ethos at Rose Hill is giving children and young people choice. We let attendees decide what activities they take part in, and we aim to give a decent range of options at dinner time as well.
“Dinner time at the Junior Youth Club is a positive experience for both the children and team members at our youth club sessions. Children have the opportunity to sit with their friends and socialise, they can talk about their day and build friendships with new children and staff, whilst eating yummy food.
“Historically, we have relied on donations of surplus food but lately we have found that more and more of our regular contributors are no longer in a position to help.
“In order to be able to continue to offer a variety of healthy, hot and delicious meals we need to be able to buy in more food. We have already hit our initial target of raising £3,000 and are hoping to raise more so we can fund meals and activities at the club in the future.
“I would like to thank everyone who has given generously so far, you are making a real difference to the lives of children and young people.”
Councillor Shaista Aziz, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities and Culture at Oxford City Council, who represents Rose Hill and Iffley ward said: “I’m immensely proud of the work the Rose Hill Junior Youth Club do and the real difference they make to the lives of children and families on the estate.
“Rose Hill Junior Youth Club is a community of children and adults who bring out the best in each other and support each other.
“The activities are inclusive and fun and the warm food that is offered during the sessions is cooked with the well-being of children at its heart.
“Families have said how much they depend on the Rose Hill Junior Youth Club and its support – especially during the cost of living crisis.
“Its been an honour to support the Rose Hill Junior Youth Club over the past years.”
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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.
You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter itssophieperry
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