Clothing appeal supported by Blackburn with Darwen’s Letsfoster

An appeal to help orphans in Uganda and children in need locally is being supported by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s fostering service.

School children from QEGS in Blackburn will be accompanied by local radio station 2BR, taking donations of clothing, shoes, glasses and underwear for orphaned children in Uganda.

The Council’s Letsfoster service is supporting the effort to collect clothes to send out to children in Uganda.

An appeal will go out to Council staff asking for people to donate items as part of the campaign – donations collected by the Council’s fostering service will be split between the Uganda appeal and donated to children in need locally.

As part of the visit, Blackburn pupils will be helping to carry out building works at the Good Samaritan school and also spend time at the village aid projects and local hospitals.

Councillor Maureen Bateson, Executive Member for Children’s Services, said:

I would like to commend the fact that young people from our area want to go and help other young people in Uganda.

This is a great opportunity to highlight the needs of young people in other parts of the world whilst also identifying the needs for our local children and young people who can’t live at home and need someone to care for them.

Locally we have many children who are waiting for a foster family and hope that by linking in with this campaign that it will help raise awareness of the need for more people to consider fostering and also the global need to help children living in these difficult conditions.

 

The campaign is aiming to collect 100 kilos of clothing. The Council will be encouraging staff to donate unwanted clothing, shoes and glasses, which the convoy will take out with them.

2BR presenter Sarah Collins added:

We would like to thank Blackburn with Darwen’s Letsfoster service for linking up with us to help raise the profile of this campaign.

Just like those children in Uganda we are trying to help, it’s also important that we don’t forget  locally that there are many children who need foster families.

Around 20 students will be heading to Uganda in July. As well as taking donations they’ve been tasked with raising money to pay for building work at the school and for teacher accommodation. They have raised over £11k in sponsorship.

QEGS spokesman Andy Buckingham said:

There are so many children who are without families and we want to do what we can to help.

Although not all the 250 pupils live at the school in Uganda, there are still a substantial number who have no family and call school home, the girls were using a converted goat shed to sleep in whilst others stay with teachers who live in very poor accommodation.

 

The public can donate items by dropping them off at:

Queen Elizabeth Grammar school in Blackburn (by July 12, 2017)

Brunlea Travel on Hammerton street in Burnley

2BR studios – 2a Petre Court, Clayton-le-moors, Accrington

Or alternatively get in touch with Sarah on 01254 350360 and she’ll come and collect any donations you have.

Find out more about helping a child locally by fostering

In Blackburn with Darwen there’s a shortage of foster carers, particularly for older children, children  with disabilities and sibling groups.  Almost anybody can be considered for fostering.

Find out more by visiting: www.letsfoster.co.uk or get in touch with us via our Facebook page: letsfoster, email: familyplacement@blackburn.gov.uk or call: 0800 328 6919.