Terrific charity The Island provides support for vulnerable children and young people across York.
The Island usually provides hampers through the donations it collects in local supermarkets.
Now councillors have agreed to fund ‘hampers of hope’ for children and their families supported by The Island.
At the suggestion of the Labour group, seven wards represented by 17 Labour councillors and 2 Green councillors are to pool part of their ward funding.
They will commit the same £1,337 from each ward totalling £9,360 – almost 40% of The Island’s £25,000 fundraising target.
Cllr Bob Webb said: “The Island does some amazing work for local children and through funding these emergency hampers of hope, we can support the charity to not only provide food and other provisions, but also learning resources and access to an emergency 24 hour helpline.
“The hampers will help support a reduction in family tension as well as improved mental health and well-being. Advice and guidance will be available to families at an early stage so The Island can help with any emerging challenges they are having.”
Cllr Labour’s spokesperson for communities, Coun. Michael Pavlovic, said the funding allocation was the first of what is expected to be others as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic becomes better understood.
“We’re pleased to agree this funding to families across the wards we represent, who fully deserve this support at an incredibly challenging time.
“We need to see how the situation develops in the coming few weeks before looking at what other funding allocations we may need to make.
“It’s obvious that the level of support some of our residents need will not be as readily available with the current restrictions, and we need to avoid a situation where people feel cut adrift.”