Urgent appeal from Leighton Buzzard’s KidsOut as charity set to lose out on £400k

KidsOut, which has its headquarters in Church Square, provides fun days out for disadvantaged children across the UK and urgently needs the public’s help so that its good work can continue.

To acknowledge the lockdown, the charity is temporarily rebranding as ‘KidsIn’, focusing on providing positive experiences that children can enjoy while staying indoors, and planning for days out when the social distancing measures end.

Gavin Bedford, marketing and communications executive for KidsIn, said: “The charity has had to cancel all its upcoming corporate networking events until September, which provided around 50 per cent of our cash income.

“And even after the lockdown, we don’t know if businesses will be able to afford tables at the events.”

The charity will also be hit because events such as marathons and other outdoor challenges have been cancelled - but all is not lost.

KidsIn has partnered with Direct Line Group which is providing extra toys for an upcoming donation drive and covering the cost of transport and food vouchers.

Deliveries will be made to women’s refuges across the UK; on the week of April 13 food vouchers will be sent out; during the week of April 20 toy boxes will be donated - and on the week of April 27, more food vouchers will be gifted to families.

Gavin added: “Many of the children we support are in the refuge system - a service which is underfunded - and fleeing domestic violence. They often arrive with nothing but the clothes on their back.The toys will help with mental health and when they find a new home after the lockdown they can invite friends back to play.”

KidsIn hopes to run cinema and Christmas fun days after the lockdown and is appealing for the public to help fundraise.

On the other hand, if self-isolation measures last longer than expected, it will look to send out additional toy boxes and vouchers. 

One way you can help to fundraise is via the ‘Fun Days In’ campaign. Take a picture/video of yourselves having a fun day at home and upload it onto social media using the hashtag #FunDaysIn.

Tag five friends to do the same and text ‘FUNDAYSIN 5’ to 70085 to donate £5.

Alternatively, you could turn your daily exercise into a sponsored walk or run. How about completing a half marathon over the course of a week? Tag @KidsOut on social media and use the hashtags #Run4KidsIn or #Walk4KidsIn.

To help the appeal and donate straight away: https://kidsoutuk.charitycheckout.co.uk/donate#!/