Successful day for young people’s charity event

A recent young people’s community fun day in Shrewsbury helped raised over £200 for a local charity. 

The Youth Fun Day held at New Lodge Youth Centre in Monkmoor, Shrewsbury raised a total of £209 for Severn Hospice, as well as several boxes of food for the Barnabus Food Bank

The charity-raising event organised by a group of young people with support from Shropshire Council’s positive activities team included glitter art tattoos, henna tattoos, face painting, music, locally-sourced barbecue and cake stalls.  As well as providing many fun activities for young people, the event aimed to raise the profile of young people in a positive way.

As part of International Youth Day, the young people wanted to organise an event for the community after taking part in the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme.

The young organisers had recently been on a two-week residential course as part of the NCS programme which brings together young people from different backgrounds to learn new skills and to make a difference within the local community.  As part of the programme young people develop social action projects within their communities, and the youth group decided it would be a good idea to organise a charity raising event as part of the International Youth Day celebrations.

Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services – transformation and safeguarding, said:

“I am really impressed to see the work these young people are doing in their communities as a result of them taking part in the NCS programmes.  It really goes to show, by giving young people the support to help improve their self-esteem, confidence, team building and communication skills, enables them to become a real credit to their community.

“I am delighted that they have raised over £200 to support a very worthy cause.  As well as bringing young people and organisations together to help vulnerable people, the event was a great way to get the local community together to socialise and have fun.”

Miles Kenny, local Shropshire Councillor and Shrewsbury Town Councillor for Underdale, said:

“It was a such a pleasure, a real enjoyment to see so many young people from all over Shropshire, many of whom prior to the start of the scheme had never met before, working and having fun together.  They are such a happy group.  Raising money for the Food Bank and Severn Hospice was just such a good choice; it demonstrates an awareness of the plight of others and is very citizenship orientated.

“It’s also full marks to the positive activities team for putting it all together, they are so good at this sort of thing.”

Pam Moseley, local Shropshire Councillor for Monkmoor, said:-

“I am delighted that the International Young People’s Day was a great success.  The skills that they have acquired on the National Citizenship Scheme, together with their hard work, have enabled them to plan a fun event, which will also support the Severn Hospice and Barnabus food bank, a valuable resource for families in the town.” 

For more information about youth activities in your area, contact Shropshire Council’s positive activities team on 01743 344500 or visit our website at http://www.shropshireyouth.com/.