Words by Smiley Team
Some of the most deprived children across the UK have a treat in store, as, from 1st April, they will receive boxes of stickers, colouring materials and more, through their front doors. Joining forces with children’s charity Barnardo’s to organise this initiative, toucanBox founder Virginie Charles-Dear is offering disadvantaged children something to look forward to, with her children’s craft boxes.
Virginie initially started toucanBox as a solution to a common problem parents face: how to keep their children entertained away from screens. Today her boxes are helping tackle broader problems faced by society. She started to incorporate charitable donations into her work in 2018 after one of her employees donated a gift to the Met Police Christmas Gift Appeal.
“We felt that as a company we could make an even bigger impact,” she said, “especially as at toucanBox we want all kids to have the opportunity to play, discover and learn, regardless of their circumstances. That's the reason we launched our charitable initiative Care for Kids.”
Since then, during children’s charity appeals, they have matched every box purchased with one donated to children in need. Their new partnership with Barnardo’s will offer children some solace while they go through the stressful experience of lockdown and catching up with school work.
Since the pandemic hit the UK, many children have struggled, being stuck at home and isolated from their friends. But for deprived children, over a year spent in lockdown has been particularly difficult, facing food insecurity and more.
“The last 12 months have been difficult for children everywhere,” said Virginie. “They’ve missed out on months of school and extracurricular activities; they’ve missed out on school trips and simply spending time with their friends.
“I’ve seen firsthand the effect that the various lockdowns have had on the mental health of my own kids and I can only imagine the disproportionate impact this pandemic had on the most vulnerable and marginalised children.”
From surveying her own customers, Virginie found that 8 in 10 parents felt their children’s mental health was a top priority. Parents told toucanBox that giving children “something positive to look forward to” - in support of their children’s mental wellbeing - was their primary reason for buying a craft box.
To cheer up children across the country in need of a nice surprise, buy a toucanBox after 1st April and your purchase will be matched with a box delivered by Barnardo’s to underprivileged children.
Barnardo’s supports children and young people, carers and their families who are facing insecurity. Last year the charity assisted more than 358,000 people through more than 800 services across the UK, such as young carers, care leavers, foster carers and adoptive parents, training and skills or parenting classes. Their goal is to transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and every year we help thousands of families to improve their situations.
Visit barnardos.org.uk to find out more. Donate to support their mission here.
