The Albert Burns Children’s Fund, which is managed by Kent Community Foundation, has awarded the What’s Coming out of the Box charity £2,600 to provide 200 “Christmas puppet show boxes” to disadvantaged families living in Margate.
The project will deliver kits to disadvantaged families containing everything they need to create puppets and scenery and put on a play called The Stone Soup. This folk story, about a hungry stranger who convinces the people of a town to each share a small amount of their food to make a meal that everyone enjoys, and which brings the community together.
Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation, said: “2020 has been a tough year and I think this festive season is going to be very hard for everyone. Digital fatigue has enveloped many of us and there is a real need for high quality screen free activities which allow families to be together in a meaningful and relaxing way.
“The Albert Burns Children’s Fund was particularly impressed with this project as it gives disadvantaged families a lovely way to spend some quality time creating the puppets and scenery and then acting out the folk story together.”
Estelle Rosenfeld, of What’s Coming out of the Box, said, “We bring innovative, multi-sensory and participatory work to audiences in places with low engagement in the arts. Our vision is to stretch families’ imaginations to create a better world together. Thanks to a generous grant from the Albert Burns Children’s Fund we will be able to provide some fun and entertainment for 200 disadvantaged families in Margate this festive season.”
The Albert Burns Children’s Trust Fund awards grants of up to £5,000 to small organisation providing direct support to young people (under 18 years old) in Thanet and in particular Margate. The deadline for applications for the next round of funding is December 31.
To find out more visit www.kentcf.org.uk/apply