The Save the Children charity, founded by two Ellesmere-born sisters, has been given a £4,500 boost – thanks to fund-raising by the local community.
In the past six months, volunteers have been involved in organising a series of events and activities to support the work of the global aid charity which operates in 100 countries.
Jean Ferris, chair of its Ellesmere and district branch, is delighted with the response: “We’re so grateful to the people of Ellesmere and the surrounding area for their generosity,” she said. “It shows that the inspirational work of Eglantyne Jebb and her sister, Dorothy who founded Save the Children more than one hundred years ago is still recognised and appreciated in the town where they spent their early years, and where their descendants still live.
“Save the Children has grown to become one of the world’s largest relief organisations, but to this area it’s still very much ‘our charity,’”
Branch volunteers have been raising money for nearly 60 years, led by its president, Mrs Corinna Jebb, widow of the late Lionel Jebb, the sisters’ great nephew.
The latest total includes more than £3,100 collected on Mayday bank holiday Monday at an open gardens event in Whittingon. It was organised by 93 year-old veteran fund-raiser Barbara Molesworth in partnership with Helen and Richard Hughes, Louise Idoux with support from other friends and neighbours.
A coffee morning at Criftins parish hall at the end of April brought in a further £570, and a similar event at the Dudleston studio of local artist Angela Scott raised nearly £380. Students and staff at Ellesmere’s Lakelands Academy added more than £400 to the total by holding a flowering arranging class, a cake-making contest, Christmas jumper day and other activities.
Branch treasurer Lynn Bartley is planning more fund-raising with a quiz night in the autumn.
She explained: “We’re very committed to Save the Children’s vital work in providing food, medicine, healthcare and educational support in some of the world’s worst trouble-spots, as well as work in helping young people in less well-off areas of the UK.
“But our branch volunteers are growing older and we really need younger people to volunteer their support so we can continue the Jebb sisters’ legacy.”
If you can offer help to the Save the Children branch, please contact Lynn at lynn_bartley55@yahoo.co.uk>
Pictures: The Criftins Coffee Club raised more than £500 for Save the Children at its April get-together
