Northamptonshire company raises hundreds for Chronicle & Echo campaign to tackle poverty

The NCF - who dish out grants to improve the lives of the county’s most disadvantaged people - have been lobbying for change after the grant providers published a new Hidden Needs report in April this year, which revealed 8,400 children are going hungry in Northampton every year.

Following our efforts, three years ago, the Chron and NCF helped to raise £11,559 to support five charitable projects working with children and young people to tackle poverty in Northampton.

One of those projects we helped to fund was Blackthorn Good Neighbours Nursery, which received £4,979 to help fund a cook for one year, among others.

After reading about the Chron's 2015 campaign one company in Crick, Butcher’s Pet Care, hosted a family fun day in August and raised £508.67 for through a charity raffle and staff football tournament.

David Thomas said: "We read about the work that has been done with this campaign in order to support children and young people living in poverty. We thought this contribution would make a difference to the lives of children and young people."

The day also included fairground games, a candyfloss stall, ice cream van and a hog roast.

He added: "This was our very first Butcher’s Pet Care Family fun day, which was a great success with employees of Butcher’s Pet Care and their families coming to join in on the fun.

"We received some great feedback and we would like to do it again next year."

The relaunched Fair Deal for Kids fund will be a ring-fenced pot of money for community groups and volunteer organisations within Northamptonshire that work to tackle poverty.

Every small donation will make a real difference. To donate, go to: www.justgiving.com/ncfoundation