ARTventurers offers lockdown birthday kits to Sunderland children marking their big days during restrictions

Sunderland-based ARTventurers is creating birthday kits to help children missing out on the usual parties and celebrations they would enjoy with friends and family.

The packs, which are tailor-made for each individual child, include a number of arts and crafts resources and can be used as part of a stay-at-home Zoom party hosted by ARTventurers.

The group decided to make the packs in order to support children who are missing out on hosting their usual birthday parties and celebrating with friends.

Cherry Emmerson, ARTventurers franchisee for Sunderland West and Washington, said birthdays are a big event for young children and the team was keen to offer something to help youngsters who have ‘lockdown birthdays’.

“We decided to launch our birthday kits as we are now entering the second round of lockdown birthdays,” she said.

"Every pack is uniquely designed after consultation with the party host, incorporating our Little ARTventurers favourite books or TV shows, or pulling inspiration from the seasons and any current celebrations. Each pack contains resources to complete a number of activities including paint and glue.”

The packs can be purchased for individual birthday children are for a larger virtual party and already proving to be a big hit in the ARTventures community.

ARTventurers was launched by Sunderland mum Fiona Simpson, who left her job as a solicitor to found the group, turning it into a national success.

Due to the lockdown, ARTventurers groups are not able to deliver face-to-face sessions, but are counting down the days until classes can safely return.

Cherry added: “As a team we are missing our face-to-face classes and cannot wait until we can return safely and for good. We know that getting back into venues and interacting with our little ones is the ultimate goal, and just on the horizon, but for now we know the best thing is for us to follow the guidance given.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the lockdown birthday packs can visit the ARTventures website at https://www.artventurers.co.uk/sunderland/

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