A CHARITY is giving children free stationery during the lockdown period to help parents educate them at home.

Youth Action is providing the free box of creative materials and stationery to help home learning during the lockdown for children in Blackburn with Darwen.

The initiative, The Creative Box, is being led by charity Youth Action based at Unity House on Preston New Road.

Youth Action, an award-winning charity, has been supporting children and families for over 19 years and have worked with a range of local organisations to make it happen.

Chairman of Youth Action, Suhail Ainarkar said: “We are proud to lead this important initiative for local children in need, as evidence points to the fact that local children from low income families are suffering from an adverse impact on their education, due to the lack of learning materials.

“Our Creative Boxes are full of new and quality stationery and arts materials to help families at this time of need."

Over 150 boxes have been distributed so far, with over 200 children on the waiting list.

Donations have been made by Westholme School, Crosshill School, Tauheedul Boys School, HPA Solicitors, SDP Media as well as The Cardboard Box Company.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out plans to facilitate the return of nursery aged children to school.

During the coronavirus lockdown, parents in Blackburn with Darwen are being forced to home school their children.

This means a lot of struggling families will not have the resources to support their children through home education.

Peter Ashworth, Chief Executive of Cidari Multi Academy Trust said “As the Cidari Trust and through St Silas Primary Academy we are delighted that we have been able to work in collaboration with Youth Action and the community to provide art and craft materials to children and families in the local area.

“We intend to support, through this project, to provide families with the materials to enjoy creative activities and art in this challenging time.”

If you would like to donate new stationary to this initiative, please email Youth Action on hello@youthaction.org.uk or call them on 01254 695847.

To find out more about the initiative please visit http://www.youthaction.org.uk/