Homebuilder and charity come together to launch Northstone Breakfast Club

The Club officially launched on the first day of school holidays and will see Colne Open Door Centre open its doors one hour earlier every Monday – Friday between 9am and 10am, giving children access to a selection of free breakfast choices, as well as an onsite crisis support worker available to deal with any issues that parents, grandparents or carers may have.

Colne Open Door Centre successfully applied to Northstone’s community fund appeal earlier this year, when the homebuilder was looking for a local charity to give a £2,000 cash boost to. Having been inundated with very strong applications, the Colne Open Door centre was chosen and rewarded with £2000 which will go towards providing a choice of warm breakfast to every child under 16 who needs a helping hand.

Commenting on the donation, Chrissie Bramhall, Communities Manager at Northstone said: “While we had so many worthy applications for the community fund, Colne Open Door Centre’s was incredibly impactful and highlighted a desperate need amongst the community and a solid plan to make a change that would positively impact hundreds of local children and families over time.

“Their wish to use the grant to support the launch of a breakfast club really struck a nerve with us and we were delighted to be able to offer them the money and even more thrilled to see how quickly they have been able to turn their idea into a reality.”

Phil Wilson, Chief Executive at Northstone added: “Six members of the Northstone team, including myself, volunteered at the launch to meet children and their families that the community fund will be having a direct impact on with the opening of the Northstone Breakfast Club; and we are incredibly proud to be associated with such an amazing initiative. It was humbling and inspirational to see the charity in action today as we launched the campaign and also donated items to the food bank that we have been collecting in recent weeks. We look forward to hearing more stories about how the breakfast club is making a difference and working with the charity again soon.”

Pendle is currently ranked number one in the country for child food poverty with Colne Open Door Centre already supporting many of the families most in need through its community café which offers low cost meals and supplying free food parcels. The charity also supports individuals and families who are facing distress and crisis in their lives. Colne Open Door Centre is a life line for many vulnerable individuals and families who desperately need food, guidance, counselling, rehoming and much more helping over 4,500 individuals and families each year.

Nick Alderson, Centre Manager at The Open Door Centre added: “We can’t thank Northstone enough for the £2,000 cash boost and for joining us at our very first Breakfast Club. It will enable us to give every child a good start to the day, not just with the food but having some structure to the day in a warm and welcoming café; the impact of which cannot be underestimated.”

To find out more about Northstone visit www.northstone.co.uk or to learn more about The Open Door Centre and its services, visit www.opendoorcentre.org.uk