VOLUNTEERS from Ellesmere Port-based charity Passion for Learning are making a vital difference to children who are most impacted by school closures during the latest lockdown.

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."

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 at Passion for Learning, added: "Since I joined the charity in November, I’ve been impressed by the many different and creative ways in which the team works to make a difference for the children who need this support the most.

"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."

Diane added: "It’s a credit to our fantastic volunteer team how well they’ve adapted to our changed circumstances over the last 12 months and that they continue to want to make a difference despite all the limitations of lockdown.

"We see the current phase as challenging but also a huge opportunity for communities to connect in a way which benefits the most vulnerable children and young people. I look forward to the year ahead when we can again reconnect in person and continue Passion for Learning’s work across Cheshire."

For more details about Passion for Learning, visit www.passion-for-learning.com or follow the charity on Facebook @PassionforLearningCheshire or on Twitter at @P4LCheshire .