16/01/2020

A charity that transforms young people’s lives across Stoke-on-Trent is urging the city’s business community to help support its activities for 2020.

The Hubb is issuing a New Year’s appeal to organisations to back its flagship project, ‘Ay Up Duck.’

Launched in February 2019, the project has gone from strength-to-strength across the city, making schoolchildren’s holidays happier, with free food, free activities and free spaces.

Now organisers behind the programme are calling for help, to make 2020 the biggest year yet.

Carol Shanahan, founder of the charity, said: “In 2020, we are planning to reach further than ever before, helping more children, including those living in deprivation across the city.

“Without free school meals in holiday times, many children in Stoke-on-Trent go hungry and parents find themselves having to skip meals to feed them.

“Over the last 12 months we have delivered 17,000 meals at 371 sessions for schoolchildren across Stoke-on-Trent.

“In 2020 we are on track to increase our activities for children by 12 per cent and deliver 3,500 extra meals.

“That will make a massive difference to young lives and help families, some of whom are really in need of support, but we need help to make this happen.”

The Hubb has produced a ten-point plan, which sets out some areas where companies can make a real difference to young people’s lives. Ideas include;

1. Get social – with shares, likes and follows for The Hubb’s social media channels
2. Putting forward teams and individuals for volunteering activities.
3. Choosing The Hubb as a charity of the year.
4. Giving donations.
5. Building links with schools in The Hubb area and going the extra mile to support them.
6. Sponsoring a Day – making a difference to hundreds of children across the city by funding food and activities for one day of the summer holidays.
7. Identifying a champion in the business who can work with the charity.
8. Helping the Hubb’s plans to upskill parents across the city – and give families a better chance.
9. Donating specialist business services.
10. Making 2020 magical for children across North Staffordshire – by supporting the charity’s Christmas campaign.

Gareth Higgins MBE, a trustee of the charity, added: “To make all the good work happen, we really need the help and support of the business community.

“We hope companies will consider The Hubb in their New Year’s resolutions and make a real difference in the city.”

On January 30th, The Hubb is holding an event to give the area’s business community an insight into its work, at Port Vale FC.

For more details please email Adam.Yates@thehubbfoundation.com