A Manchester-based charity is appealing for more donations to help children living in poverty in Salford ahead of the new school year.
Wood Street Mission has helped 21,000 children so far with its Smart Start initiative and the charity is now looking for further support as the need for this initiative continues to grow. There are an estimated 90,000 children living in poverty across Manchester and Salford – enough to fill every seat in Wembley Stadium.
The charity has been running its Smart Start campaign for several years to deliver brand-new uniforms, coats, and stationery to children affected by poverty, helping them to start the school year feeling confident, comfortable and able to achieve their full potential.
The initiative, which works with local schools, health visitors, social workers, and other professionals to identify families in need, aims to ensure that children can attend school without feeling out of place due to financial hardship. Last year, the charity helped over 2,300 children, bringing the total number served to over 21,000 since the initiative began.
Des Lynch, CEO at Wood Street Mission, said: “If you’re a family caught in the cycle of poverty, it can be incredibly difficult to break free. Anyone at any time can be at risk of falling into this cycle – whether from redundancy, an illness or even a pandemic.
“Out of every class of 30 children, nine will be living in poverty. If we can assist those nine and enable them to go to school looking and feeling like their peers, and give them the tools to succeed – then we can begin to break that cycle.
“We believe education is the most important route out of poverty, but children can only thrive in school if they feel like they belong. That’s why initiatives like Smart Start are crucial, as they give children the confidence to engage, participate, and succeed.”
For more information about how to donate or get involved with fundraising efforts for the Smart Start campaign, visit www.woodstreetmission.org.uk/our-projects/smart-start/
Featured image credit: Wood Street Mission
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