VOLUNTEERS at an educational charity have been praised for the work they've done for children in Northwich during lockdown.

Passion For Learning have been making a vital difference to children who are most impacted by school closures during the third national lockdown, including writing letters to those volunteers would normally see in person.

The main focus for volunteers has been the development and distribution of hundreds of enrichment and wellbeing bags each week to children across the whole region.

Pupils from schools across Northwich have benefitted from the help, including those at Barnton Community Primary and Nursery School, Victoria Road, Witton Church Walk, Rudheath Primary and Lostock Gralam.

Volunteer Support Team Manager Louise Parry said: "We’ve been amazed by the commitment and creativity of our wonderful volunteers, who want to continue supporting children even while schools are closed.

"Over 30 volunteers are now writing letters to the children who they would normally see in person, keeping a crucial link with the wider world and the motivation to keep going with learning at home.

"We are encouraging the children to write back to the volunteers, providing them with the stationery and stamps to enable them to do this.

"By acting as a postbox between the children and volunteers, we are keeping everyone’s address details secure and safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone involved."

Northwich Guardian: A set of numeracy learning resources which have been going out to support children.

Hundreds of packs like this one above have been sent to children across Northwich.

Diane Clark, Passion for Learning’s founder and CEO added: "Our main focus at the moment is the development and distribution of 600 enrichment and wellbeing bags each week to children across our region.

"These bags provide vital learning resources and encouragement to children, which we know makes a huge difference for families most affected by the pandemic.

"We are distributing these resources via our partner schools and are so grateful for the support of our volunteers in making deliveries each week.

"As a small charity, it’s never more true to say that we couldn’t achieve all that we do without the commitment and enthusiasm of our volunteers."

Sue Hughes, Education Development Manager said she had only joined the charity in November but had already been impressed by the many different and creative ways in which the team works to make a difference for the children who need the support the most.

She said: "One of these ways has been the introduction of virtual volunteering, where we connect with children online using a platform like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

"I’ve been volunteering myself in this way and can vouch for how well this online connection works with individual children.

"We are so pleased to be working with a number of our partner schools in rolling out this virtual volunteering offer, particularly when nobody knows how long this latest lockdown will continue."

For more details about Passion for Learning please see the website www.passion-for-learning.com.