A charity in Boscombe will soon be celebrating a double success after being gifted a new head office in Boscombe’s Sovereign Shopping Centre and also being named its ‘charity of the year.’
Creative Kids UK, which provides ‘Affordable, accessible arts for all’, has seen steady growth in user numbers for its free monthly family workshops, subsidised holiday arts clubs and drop-and-shop members’ service.
To help the charity expand the delivery of its services and to support its continuing growth, The Sovereign Shopping Centre has provided it with a large and permanent headquarters in the centre at a greatly discounted rate. The immediate effect for Creative Kids UK being that it can now provide its popular workshops for 24 instead of just 16 children.
Bournemouth Mayor, Councilor Chris Mayne, will preside over a ceremony in The Sovereign Shopping Centre to mark the development on Saturday 25th October at 10:30am attended by charity trustees and members and their families.
Cary Lightfoot, charity founder, said “We’re so grateful for the Sovereign Centre’s support. It’s put us in a really strong position, as we continue to strive to live up to our vision of offering affordable and accessible arts for all. It’s very exciting to be able to offer these services right in the heart of the community we serve.”
Peter Ruscoe, centre manager at the Sovereign Shopping Centre, said, “Creative Kids UK is a fantastic charity that really makes a difference for children in our community. We’re delighted to have been able to help them develop what they offer by providing a permanent home. Additionally, all proceeds from fund raising activities we run here in the centre this year will go to them so that they can continue with their work.”
Creative Kids UK will be running its usual ‘Holiday Arts Club’ throughout October half term and invite old and new members from 8-12 years old to come along and experience their autumnal and Halloween workshops culminating in a day of Halloween fun in The Sovereign Centre on 31st October.
Molly Heinrich
