A local group that makes a positive difference to the lives of children in foster care will be hosting its first fundraising ball this summer.
The Comfort U Bags (CUBs) project was set up in 2017 to provide foster children with their own rucksack filled with an array of items including toiletries, colouring books and teddies to make their transition into foster care a little easier.
And the team behind the initiative will be hosting a summer ball on Thursday, 20 June at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel, Lydiard Fields near Junction 16 of the M4, to continue fundraising for the project.
So far, over 700 CUB bags have been produced, with 250 of these given to foster children in Swindon.
Sian Briddon from the CUBs team, said: “When children enter the foster care system in the UK, they may only have a plastic bag and little more than the clothes on their back. We believe every child going into care deserves to pack their belongings into a special bag and have some items to take with them which they can call their own.
“This is how the idea of CUBs was born and we’re thrilled with how the project is going so far, but we have to continue fundraising to provide as many of these bags as we can.”
David Haley, Corporate Director of Children Services at Swindon Borough Council, said: “We’re extremely grateful to the CUBs team for the hard work and passion they’ve put into this project which has really made a difference to children and young people in Swindon. Going to live with a new foster family can be an unsettling time for some children, so having a bag filled with personal and familiar items is incredibly comforting for them.”
Tickets are now on sale for the summer ball for £35 each, which includes an arrival drink, two-course dinner and live entertainment. To find out more about the ball or other ways to help with fundraising, visit: www.comfortubags.co.uk.
