YOUNG DANCERS from across Solihull and Leamington have helped Coventry Foodbank with the launch of its festive fundraising campaign to help tackle the rising food crisis.
The Foodbank is appealing for support to help meet increasing demand through a new five-part video, filmed in collaboration with two local dance groups – Pointe The Way Ballet School in Solihull and Leamington and Warwick Academy of Dance.
The light-hearted social media campaign uses the medium of dance to narrate a version of The Night Before Christmas to raise awareness as well as thousands of pounds for the Foodbank, which has 14 centres throughout the city.
It is hoped the video will surpass the success of last year’s, The Dance of the Foodbank Fairies, which raised £22k.
This time the Fairies are trying to fend off Hunger in the guise of ninjas who are trying to steal the food.
The 24 dancers aged between six and 15, took part in the day of filming, at Coventry Foodbank’s Halo Centre warehouse in Binley.
It’s a cause particularly close to the heart of the dance schools’ Principal Viv Kibble, also the wife of one Coventry Foodbank’s founders Canon Gavin Kibble.
She said: “We did some filming for the first time last year and the children loved every minute. The amount we raised was incredible. This year the youngsters are the fairies of the warehouse who make all the magic happen and the teenagers are the growing hunger, ninja characters.
“As you will see in the finished film, the hunger in the city has continued to grow as cost of living has risen steeply this year so the challenge for this year’s campaign is to find regular givers who would give monthly as well as one-off donations. The target is to top £30K.
“Food poverty is very real in Coventry and everything we do helps to alleviate the pressure for those who need it the most.”
To donate or watch the video click here.
