Local schoolchildren get creative for good cause

Supported by the Arts Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, pupils from St Joseph’s School and Nursery, Forest View Academy and Park Gate Academy all made harvest festival boxes, decorated in fun workshops with artist Sarah Manton. Her speciality is paper craft so children enjoyed experimenting with ways of making different textures, had a go at using punches and came up with some exciting and exotic ideas, including featuring a dragon fruit and durian fruit in their inventive designs.

Many of the boxes created by the children were filled with food and donated to those in need, with some being given directly to the community and some taken to local food banks like the Lifespring Centre in Ollerton.

Councillor Rowan Cozens, Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s wonderful to see the children working hard, bringing smiles to people who need them, both with their generosity and their creativity. What’s really special about supporting projects like this is that it’s of benefit both to local people in need in these trying times and the children who had fun letting their imaginations run wild through art.”

The District Council also run a number of schemes for local food donation including the Crop Drop initiative which enables allotment holders to donate food to food clubs, food banks, local schools, colleges and more.

A list of local food clubs which can offer support to residents struggling in the cost of living crisis, some of which do accept donations, can be found on the District Council website at https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/heretohelp/.