Who are we?
We are Solidarity Sports a children's charity based in West London which supports children recovering from complex trauma. Our main work takes place during the school holidays where we run daily trips and activities to help improve the mental and physical well-being of the children we care for.
Why are we crowdfunding?
“I hate school, the kids always make fun of me for being fat. They call me names and always laugh at me.” - Boy age 9
Healthy eating is at the heart of what we do. It is now estimated that 1 in 4 primary school children aged 10 in England are classified as obese.
The children and families we support face severe financial difficulties, worsened by the rising cost of living, with some surviving on as little as £8 a week. This makes it challenging for them to access healthy food, often leaving them dependent on local food banks that are struggling to keep up with growing demand. With unhealthy food often being cheaper, we are witnessing a stark rise in childhood obesity. By building our dream kitchen, we aim to make healthy eating more accessible. Once the kitchen is complete, we plan to launch cooking clubs for our children and families, including those living in hotels or temporary accommodation with limited access to cooking facilities, because every child deserves the right to healthy meals.
How we’ll spend the money raised
The kitchen, equipment and storage will cost £12,000. We want to create a beautiful space where children and families can build friendships and develop a love for cooking and healthy food. The remaining £8,000 will go towards creating a special sensory room in our basement to support children with additional needs.
Community Impact
Our kitchen will reach the most vulnerable in our society. Thirty-five per cent of the families we support live in temporary accommodation or hotels and have no access to public funds. Ninety per cent of the children we care for rely on free school meals and our holiday provisions for their essential nutrition. This kitchen will provide those who are often excluded from the simple joy of cooking with the chance to build healthier habits and become more connected to their local community.