Kids in Emergency Care Supported by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 5 December 2016

UPDATED: 8 December 2016

Children who arrive at emergency care refuge centres in the Burton on Trent are now receiving Buddy Bags stocked with essential items, thanks to the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce supporting a Christmas Fayre networking event held at The Trinity Lounge, Burton on Trent, for the new Buddy Bag Foundation who support children at one of the most vulnerable stages of their lives.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce supported a Christmas Fayre, an evening full of mince pies, mulled wine and festive networking with the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce all in aid of the Buddy Bag Foundation! Christmas carols were performed by local children! It was a brilliant opportunity to network with local groups in a festive atmosphere, at the Trinity Lounge in Burton on Trent.

On the evening over £500 was raised by the Chamber of Commerce. This will make a difference to 20 local children by funding 20 Buddy Bags.

The Buddy Bag Foundation was set up by local entrepreneur Karen Williams just over 12 months ago, in response to the rising number of children in the UK who enter emergency care after fleeing violent situations at home.

A matter of fact

• 48,000 children require emergency accommodation in the UK each year.
• Children fleeing violent situations often have to leave home quickly without the chance to collect basic items. These children arrive in emergency accommodation with just the clothes they are wearing.
• There are over 68,000 children in care in England.
• Almost 400,000 children received support from children’s services in England during 2015.

Source: NSPCC web site Department of Education 2014

How the scheme works

Buddy Bags are funded through fundraising, sponsorship and donations. Groups of items can either be donated or sponsored. Individual volunteers or companies looking for community projects to support can meet at venues throughout the West Midlands every fortnight to help fill the back packs.

Where did the Buddy Bag idea come from?

During a visit to Australia in 2014 Karen Williams was inspired by an article about the Alannah and Madeline Foundation (www.amf.org.au) which has delivered more than 50,000 Buddy Bags to children in emergency care since 2007. On her return Karen researched the facilities available to children in emergency care in the UK and discovered a huge need for Buddy Bags here. To ensure as many children as possible can benefit from the Buddy Bag scheme, Karen set up The Buddy Bag Foundation and launched the Buddy Bag appeal in the UK, with the help and support of The Alannah and Madeline Foundation.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce will be exhibiting at the Love Business Expo at Stand E10 in the Small Business Zone on the 16th February 2017 at Donington Park

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