Wicksteed Park hosts hundreds of disadvantaged children as part of largest event in the UK
Hundreds of children from our region will enjoy a fun day out on June 12th at Wicksteed Park as part of the National Rotary KidsOut Day. The event, which sees over 26,000 children from disadvantaged backgrounds, including some who have been affected by domestic abuse, enjoy a care-free day out, is the largest event of its kind in the UK.
The CEO of KidsOut, Sara Williams, said, “This event is a mammoth undertaking but so worth it so see the children happy. We receive hundreds of moving messages of thanks each year from parents and carers to say that without the charity’s and Rotary’s help they would never have been able to take the children on a day trip like this. We are hugely grateful for our partnership with Rotary and the support of their volunteers to help make this amazing event happen. We would also like to thank Wicksteed Park for giving us the opportunity to make a positive change to the lives of the children.”
The UK Rotary Coordinator, Steve Cartwright said “Giving these children the opportunity to experience something that most of us take for granted, and seeing their happy and smiling faces, is a fitting reward for all the hard work and preparation by UK Rotary Clubs and our members who are assisted by KidsOut.”
KidsOut takes over 57,000 disadvantaged children out throughout the year including children, who along with their mothers have fled domestic abuse and are displaced to live in refuge, including several refuges in the Kettering area and Northamptonshire. The charity takes children to the cinema and theatre, ten-pin bowling, farm parks, zoos and holds wellbeing workshops. They also provide a box of 10 brand new toys for children as they arrive into refuge as well as something to open at Christmas, with the charity running the famous, “Giving Tree, Fun & Happiness Shop,” from which people can buy a gift or fun day out for a disadvantaged child all year round.
Sara Williams went on to say, “Like all charities we rely on donations as well as volunteers to fundraise for us so we can help as many children as we can. However, with the growing number of children needing support, particularly those in refuge, we need more donations to meet demand throughout the year. There are two simple ways to help a vulnerable child; you can simply donate to the charity directly, or by going to the KidsOut website’s famous ‘Giving Tree, Fun & Happiness Shop’, you can choose from a selection of items, including fun trips to the cinema, the seaside, and theme parks, as well as books, vouchers, and toys.”
To find more about the charity, or to visit the Giving Tree Shop go to: www.kidsout.org.uk
Attendee panel for the event is now closed.