Variety, the Children’s Charity, partners with 23 March Covid commemoration campaign to encourage the continued spread of community kindness

MARCH 23RD 2021 / AGILITYPR.NEWS / March 10, 2021 /  

**EMBARGOED UNTIL 10PM WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH 2021**

Variety, the Children’s Charity, partners with 23 March Covid commemoration campaign to encourage the continued spread of community kindness

As the UK prepares to emerge from Covid restrictions, Variety, the Children’s Charity, has announced a partnership with 23 March, a campaign to commemorate the first day of the national lockdown, when the country was devastated by the sudden imposition of restrictions, but at the same time discovered a resurgent community spirit.

The campaign’s rallying cry is for all of us to keep passing on the acts of kindness that flourished so noticeably during the past year, to ensure that the community spirit forged by the trials of the coronavirus crisis continues into the future.

Variety’s celebrity supporters, including Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Nick Knowles, Eamonn Holmes, Heather Small and Lorraine Kelly are showing their heartfelt support for the campaign by posting social media photos and videos of themselves encouraging continued acts of community kindness. At the same time, they are calling for donations to support Variety’s work with disabled and disadvantaged children, who have been among those most affected by the pandemic. Donations can be made here: https://www.variety.org.uk/donate

Members of the public will also be encouraged to share social media photos and videos encouraging the continued spread of community kindness, using their hands to form a heart shape symbol, which is the Variety logo, as a visual shorthand for the campaign, as well as the hashtag #23March. Photos and videos can also be uploaded to the campaign website, www.23march.co.uk, which will form the communications hub of the campaign.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a disproportionate social, emotional and academic impact on all children and young people. However, for the one million disabled children in the UK, as well as the four million children living in poverty, the blow has been particularly severe.

The families of children Variety supports have described facing a range of challenges brought about the pandemic. These include a reduction in their usual support services and therapies, changes in routine, being isolated at home, and the demands of home schooling, which are particularly tough for children with special educational needs. Job losses or reduced employment have also taken their toll, especially given that the outgoings of families with a disabled child are, on average, £600 a month higher than those of families with non-disabled children.

Former Cabinet Minister Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, a Variety Ambassador, said: “It’s absolutely essential that we mark this first anniversary with a national day of reflection. To remember those who have lost so much, have done so much and also to look forward to a brighter future with our freedoms restored.”

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact Caroline Monk:

caroline.monk@variety.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

About Variety

Variety believes that neither disability nor disadvantage should prevent any child or young person from realising their full potential. Since being founded in October 1949, the charity has supported over one million disabled and disadvantaged children.

When statutory funding cannot adequately meet a child’s needs, Variety steps in. To ensure that the Charity can respond specifically to the needs of each individual child, Variety provides support in the following four ways:

• Through the provision of specially adapted, accessible transport in the form of Variety’s famous Sunshine Coaches, making it possible for children and young people to get out and about so that they can learn practical life skills and enjoy trips out to places they otherwise couldn’t get to;

• Through the provision of customised Wheelchairs helping to increase mobility and gain independence and self-esteem.

• Through the provision of specialist equipment grants which support a child’s development or ability to self-care; and 

• Through memorable experiences in the form of the Variety Great Days Out programme which provides educational and fun day trips.

Variety launched in the United States in 1928 and now operates in 13 countries across the world (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Jersey, Republic of Ireland, France, Israel, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Barbados and Eastern Caribbean), helping children at the local community level.

Variety is a registered charity in England and Wales (209259) and Scotland (SC038505)

Follow Variety, the Children’s Charity on twitter @VarietyGB or www.facebook.com/VarietyGB