Blackburn Youth Zone ‘Zone to Home’ pledges to feed 10,000 vulnerable young people this Christmas
Zone to Home at Christmas
Blackburn Youth Zone will ensure vulnerable young people don’t go hungry this Christmas after launching a festive campaign. The Youth Zone has pledged to feed 10,000 children and young people across Blackburn with Darwen over Christmas. Young people can visit the Youth Zone and receive a free hot meal throughout December.
The charity will also give out Christmas food hampers over the Christmas period, to support vulnerable families. The community has now been urged to get behind the campaign to enable BYZ to continue its life-changing work with those who need it the most.
Blackburn with Darwen is one of the most deprived boroughs in England. According to a study by the Social Market Foundation, the towns have the sixth-highest rate of children going hungry in the UK, with more than 8,000 currently facing very low food security.
Hannah Allen, Chief Executive of Blackburn Youth Zone, said:
“Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, however, it can be a very dark place for some of our vulnerable young people and families. Covid has also presented many challenges, and with the unknown of another possible lockdown around Christmas, we are now seeing the damaging impact on our families across the borough.
“With the help of donations from the local community, this campaign will at least ensure more of our local young people can enjoy the warmth and comfort of a hot meal over the festive period.”
A parent of a junior member said:
‘We heavily rely on food parcels, and Blackburn Youth Zone has helped us through a very difficult period. We really appreciate everything they do for our family.’
Blackburn Youth Zone is now calling on the community to support those more vulnerable than themselves. By donating to the campaign will mean Blackburn Youth Zone can purchase enough ingredients to support families this Christmas.
A donation of just £2 will provide one young person with a hot meal or donate £5 for food hamper for a family over Christmas. The Youth Zone is aiming to provide 10,000 meals.
Blackburn Youth Zone previously provided 4,000 meals through its Zone to Home campaign held during Easter 2020.
Donations can be made by visiting Go Fund Me or by emailing melanie.thomas@blackburnyz.org
https://www.gofundme.com/f/zone-to-home-at-christmas?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
