Our Young Arts Volunteers have organised, led and taken part in projects for children and young people locally. Working in partnership with schools and the wider community we offer opportunities and support in our aim to enhance enjoyment and foster understanding of the arts by broadening experience for young people, their parents and carers. 

Since 2021, providing Christmas Art Packs for the children whose parents use the King's Lynn Foodbank has become our principal volunteering activity.  In 2021 we produced 50 packs, in 2022 we doubled the number to 100 and in 2023 and 2024 we were able to produce 200 packs.  It is a project which has claimed the attention of the Arts Society and has inspired several other societies across the country to start similar projects.

Our packs are made for 3 different age groups; suitable for children from 3 years to early teens so different age-appropriate reading and activity books were ordered as well as paints, crayons and felt pens, scissors, glue, a variety of craft materials and lots of papers and card. The art packs are contained in bags made of Christmassy fabrics sewn together by our members and two local sewing groups.

The Foodbank distributes the packs to the children of their clients and they have repeated told us have greatly they are appreciated by the recipients.

In November we finished this year's art packs and handed over another 100 gifts for local children. Our project received a grant from The Arts Society’s Patricia Faye Fund and donations from local businesses Mars Foods, Hayes and Storr and Learning Resources as well as donations from individuals. 

We have already started raising money for next year's packs and if anyone has any ideas or contacts for fundraising we would be very grateful to hear from them. Crucially we are looking for someone to take over coordinating this project next year so please consider helping with this worthwhile project. The more people who help - the lighter the load!

You can also help by making some of the fabric bags we put the gifts in and a pattern for guidence on the size required is available in the documents section of the website. 

Any queries please email triciarowlands23@live.co.uk or r.harre@btinternet.com