Just a heads up about this in case you missed it on the news.
A new campaign has been launched by NetMums and Kids Company to help provide meals for children who are going hungry. This isn't in some far-flung developing nation hit by natural disasters we're talking about - it's this country of our own, that's been hit by a very man-made disaster. I would like to say how shocking this is, but, with the stories I've been highlighting recently, I'm sad to say it's all too familiar, though no less disturbing.
Imagine being a ten-year-old in the UK. Your mother has left you alone with your younger siblings. You are starving, but she is too disturbed to notice. The neighbours know about your hunger and through the letterbox they throw in biscuits, but are too frightened to alert social services because your mother’s boyfriend might harm them. The biscuits make for a good day, on a bad day you draw pictures of food and swallow the paper.
This is a true life example of the children that find their way to the charity Kids Company where they no longer spend the day alone and hungry but are fed, played with and cared for. They have to go home at night, but at least they can come back the next day. And the next.
But instead of wondering how it's possible to make a difference, root around in your cupboards for those old phones that you not longer use and take them to your local Orange or T-mobile store.
Tania is an experienced broadcast and print journalist & author. She also runs a PR, web & social media consultancy, SocialOro Media.
Tania is a rare disease & chronic pain patient advocate with Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
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Great campaign.x