An amazing charity, Kidz Klub Leeds, is celebrating its 21st anniversary of working on the frontline to reach unreached children, who are growing up in poverty. Kidz Klub shares a legacy of God’s love and journeying with disadvantaged children to see them become ‘community changers and nation shakers’.
Since 2000, churches, and supporters have been working together through Kidz Klub Leeds in an effort to reach as many children as possible from inner-city communities with the Good News in word and deed.
“We’re excited to have reached our 21st birthday as a charity and are grateful to everyone who has supported our vision to see a lasting transformation for the most marginalised unreached children, families and communities in Leeds,” said Sarah Turner the charity’s co-Leader. “The story of Kidz Klub is really one that points to a Father who is just crazy about reaching His kids” Sarah said.
Kidz Klub is based in seven areas of Leeds in the bottom 10 per cent of deprivation in the UK and works with up to 1000 children a week. The frontline model includes; home visiting rounds for up to 1000 children, schools work in 34 schools, online sessions, Hub Klub’s on the ground for children to walk to, Family Support Work, a Young Leaders programme, the ‘Kidz Klub Academy’ (training adults who are out of education and employment) and a large scale Central Klub with 7 double decker buses collecting up to 400 children.
With the coronavirus crisis worsening child poverty and adding new challenges for our nation’s most under resourced communities, Kidz Klub Leeds has adapted its usual programme of activities in response to the pandemic.
It has also been coming up with new ideas to generate funding and has launched a new online ethical clothing and lifestyle store. 100% of the profits generated from “BIGKID Collective” support the children through Kidz Klub’s programme of activities.
“Over the last two decades we’ve reached 26,000 children through regular sustained work in schools, communities, on streets and in Kidz Klubs and have carried out 600,000 home visits through a dedicated team,” added Sarah.
One adult who attended as a child and young volunteer, called a Greenie, recently sent the team a birthday card: “This past year I have been following your journey in these difficult times and you guys prove everyday how amazing you are. You helped me from the very first Kidz Klub and throughout my teens as a Greenie.
“You were my safe place and I feel blessed to have been part of Kidz Klub’s journey. I truly needed Kidz Klub when I was younger as my childhood wasn’t great. I wanted to be a Greenie to help children who may have quietly been going through what I did. The support and love I received meant a great deal and I made friends for life. Kidz Klub helped me in many ways, so I know first-hand how much these families will need and appreciate your help. It’s hard to believe you are doing the same and are STILL going strong’’.
Laura Hodgkinson, the charity’s co-leader, said, “The vision is that lasting transformation will come from within our communities. Today we have second generation children attending, we have parents volunteering and we have had adult volunteers who were at Kidz Klub themselves as children. Over a third of our team are from or have relocated to live in the areas that we have the privilege of serving. Every term the children plan and run their own community mission events and we bring together the local churches with the children and their families.”
The charity’s usual programme of activities has been developed on the back of 21 years of ministry and of asking the question, “How can we follow God’s heart to reach and keep the unreached generations?”.
Sarah added, “During the pandemic, we’ve seen that adversity has become intensified for our families and communities. But we have this vision from the Father-that the children are the community changers and the nation shakers. We are seeing them affect great change in their streets as they find out who they are and whose they are.’’
Help Kidz Club to raise community changers
Kidz Klub are asking people to stand with them to make a different story for the children they serve. Can you join the movement to create a lasting legacy for children in our nation?
- Join up online as a prayer supporter www.kidzklubleeds.org.uk
- Become a ‘Friend of Kidz Klub ‘ through a financial gift
- Check out www.bigkidcollective.co.uk and shop their ethical collection of clothing and lifestyle items to support the children.
- Join the team www.kidzklubleeds.org.uk
Also read: Soul Church, Norwich shows God’s love in action with 2 million meals
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