January Newsletter - 2015Thank you from Kids Company -
First and foremost, we want to send heartfelt thanks to the following incredible companies who helped make Christmas happen for many thousands of our children and their families: Restaurant Associates, Ella's Kitchen, Whole Foods Market, United Biscuits, Marks and Spencer's and the Innocent Foundation. We cannot espress how valuable their support for our food provision on Christmas Day and throughout the Christmas period is. With the food and funds they so generously donated we were able to provide hot, tasty and nutritious food for over 4000 vulnerable children, young people and their families, as well as filling desperately needed food parcels that we distributed to a further 12,000 of our families. We simply could not have done it without them!
THIS MONTH
Last chance to catch Year of the Bus sculptures at family fun weekend in aid of Kids Company
In October 2014 TFL and Wild in Art unveiled 28 sculptures from the Year of the Bus Sculpture Trail, before being auctioned off later this year. They will all be on display for one final time over the weekend of 24 and 25 January 2015 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The Route Master buses are painted and adorned by well-known and aspiring artists, and have been capturing the imagination of Londoners and visitors to the city. Members of the public are now invited to view all of these unique artworks in one place as part of a free family fun weekend with activities including art and music workshops for children and families, and face painting. There's also a fantastic opportunity to view and board a New Routemaster bus and the Year of the Bus mobile exhibition which tells the story of the London Bus and looks to its future. Last but by no means least you will be able to learn more about the charities who benefit from this creative initiative, with Kids Company being one of them! And if the prospect of spending the whole day outside in the biting cold doesn't appeal, fear not as this fantastic event will be going on in the comfort of a heated marquee. Please click here to find out more.
National CSR Awards 2015
Psst.. We heard you cane still enter the National CSR Awards 2015. The National CSR Awards, is designed to celebrate business excellence and innovation within the area of CSR. It is the only one of its kind in the UK; encompassing all areas of CSR including Sustainability, Carbon Footprinting, Community Development, Staff Welfare and Education as well as the delivery of a CSR Showcase Exhibition.
If you have a CSR initiative or project that will have taken place between 2012 and 2014, you will be eligible to enter for the National CSR Awards 2015. If you are interested in entering the awards please click here
EVENTS THIS MONTH
Hungry Childhoods Exhibition
Our fantastic Hungry Childhoods exhibition, funded by partners Ella's Kitchen, is going on display again in St Mary Redcliff's Church Bristol for the duration of Lent. If you are in town, stop by from 18th Feb to 2nd April and see the amazing work created by our courageous young people, highlighting the experiences of food insecurity and malnutrition.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Superhero Fun Run - Regent's Park
Event Date: Sunday 17 May
Registration Fee: £22.00
Suggested Sponsorship: £100.00 or £200.00 (depending on distance)
A great fun run in the beautiful Regent's Park. You can choose to run either 5K or 10K and all runners receive a FREE superhero outfit! You can set yourself a time goal or just relax and enjoy a more leisurely pace. This is a great event to do with friends/family and is an enjoyable and active day out. Register here: https://www.doitforcharity.com/book-online.aspx?eid=2773&cid=33462&charity=true
Pico Aneto - Pyrenees
Event Dates: Friday 23 - Sunday 25 May
Registration Fee: TBC but around £290.00
Suggested Sponsorship: £975.00 (excluding GiftAid)
Join Kids Company in our attempt to conquer the highest peak in the Pyrenees at 3404m!
A two-day spring ascent promises glorious weather and a sprinkling of snow cover on the glacier, meaning ice axes, crampons and ropes will be necessary for the exhilarating climb. The final ascent will begin by torchlight as we head for the gullies and then on to the eventual steep, airy traverse to the peak. This challenge is not for the faint-hearted, but it is well worth the effort for the magnificent views and the immense feeling of achievement you'll be rewarded with as you conquer the highest peak in the Pyrenees.
Very challenging, best suited for participants with high levels of fitness and some mountain experience. For more information and to register, email suzie.curran@kidsco.org.uk
(Costs NOT included: flights, insurance and kit that needs to be purchased)
Bristol Appeal
Please do get in touch if you know of any Bristol based companies who could donate baby clothes, kitchen materials or art supplies. If you need any more information please contact : josie.curran@kidsco.org.uk
IN THE PRESS THIS MONTH
Simply Business write about their Arctic Biathlon trip which raised £18k for Kids Company
Camila talks to LBC radio about how the coalition has failed the most vulnerable families by underfunding social care systems here
Kids Company contributes to Sky News investigative piece into the trafficking of children by drug dealers into the countryside and smaller UK towns here.
