The Local Council Roads Innovation Group, in collaboration with council contractors and local businesses, has raised almost £2,500 towards Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s care leavers a gift this Christmas.
A total of 163 gift bags have been assembled and delivered to the council, ensuring every young adult between the ages of 18 and 21 who has spent time in foster or residential care in the borough receives a gift.
This is the fifth consecutive year LCRIG has taken part in the initiative and for many of the care leavers, this will be the only present they receive this year.
The initiative was celebrated at a presentation event attended by:
- Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Executive Member for Growth and Development at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
- Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
- Carmel Foster-Devine, Head of Highways and Transport at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
- Susanne Ingham, Relationship Director at the Local Council Roads Innovation Group, Councillor
- Julie Gunn, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
- Representatives from Multevo
- Representatives from the council’s highways department
- Representatives from the council’s children, young people and education department
We would like extend our sincere thanks to A.J Bretherton Groundworks and Plant Hire, Multipave NW Ltd, Tensar, Multevo and Beever & Struthers for generously supporting the initiative this year.
Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Executive Member for Growth and Development said:
“It’s excellent to be supporting this initiative once again this year, and we couldn’t do it without the support of our contractors.
“A huge thank you to those who have donated and to the LCRIG team for buying, wrapping and creating the gift bags.”
Councillor Julie Gunn, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education said: “Here at Blackburn with Darwen borough council our aim is to ensure that no-one is left behind, and that includes our care leavers.
Thank you to everyone involved in this fantastic initiative, I know the gifts will be so appreciated.”
Susanne Ingham, Relationship Director at the Local Council Roads Innovation Group said:
“LCRIG is so proud to support this wonderful initiative again this year and to provide presents for young people leaving care. A huge thank you to the companies that generously contributed to making this possible.”
The gift bags, which have been thoughtfully assembled by Susanne’s daughter, Georgia, will be hand delivered to every care leaver by our children’s department, regardless of where they live, whether it be in Scotland or Torquay, or closer to home.
Image: Blackburn with Darwen BC