We were supposed to be on our family holiday in Somerset during 29 March to 5 April. This got cancelled due to coronavirus.

As we were at home, our family decided to raise money by rowing the navigable length of the Thames (306km) for Odd Arts on our new indoor rowing machine. We are not experienced rowers!

Odd Arts are a creative arts charity based in Manchester.

Odd Arts works with excluded and vulnerable groups through theatre and other creative arts. Their work is vital for our society. They deliver workshops in prisons, secure care homes, pupil referral units, youth and community centres.

Or did.

Because of coronavirus has stopped all of their face to face work. It's also stopped their income because although Odd Arts is a charity, it gets almost all its funding from being paid for the work they do.  It's a model which has worked brilliantly... until now.

Two of the children's secure care homes where they have been delivering drama workshops every week for three years are no longer able to access workshops or other outside visits or education. These are young people who have faced multiple disadvantages and mental health challenges. The young people and staff there are in a really challenging situation. 

Odd Arts has tried to think of ways to continue engagement with the young people and fill their time with creative and meaningful experiences, without actually being able to visit the secure centres. Their solution has been the 'Creative Box' idea. Odd Arts are planning to deliver simple but exciting creative tasks, with accompanying guidance and materials (props, crafts, notebooks, art materials). Each task will work towards completion of an arts award. They can liaise with the young people, mark their work and give feedback and ideas. The young people will maintain contact with people on the outside; have worthwhile activities (not just from a screen, but things to touch, feel and experience) and gain an accreditation.

They anticipate that purchasing the materials and postage for the 'Creative Box', as well as the moderation for each person will cost around £1000 over a 4 month period.

We and Odd Arts are really grateful for any donations towards our fundraising.

With thanks to White & Case for their donation.