SEVERAL community groups in Holsworthy and further afield banded together to bring Christmas cheer to some of the town’s schoolchildren in response to a plea from the local primary school.

Cllr Jon Hutchings, the mayor of Holsworthy, said he was contacted in early December by Emma Gliddon, the pastoral lead at Holsworthy Primary School.

The school had raised concerns with the mayor regarding the fact that there were some local families who were going to find Christmas difficult this year.

In a bid to brighten up the festive season for the local families, Cllr Hutchings swung into action co-ordinating a response that brought together several pillars of Holsworthy community life.

With the assistance of Holsworthy food bank, Bideford food bank, The Balsdon Trust, Holsworthy Lions and Holsworthy Town Council, packages to help the families involving food and presents together for the struggling families at Holsworthy Primary School.

Once work had got underway in preparing the food and gift packages for families in need at the primary school, and after reaching out to the headteacher at Holsworthy Community College, it became clear to Cllr Hutchings that there were families there who were also likely to find Christmas difficult amid the pressures on finances exacerbated by the ongoing ‘cost of living’ crisis. Not wishing for them to miss out, a last minute effort was undertaken to source extra parcels.

In total, the efforts were able to support 20 local Holsworthy families over the Christmas period.

Cllr Hutchings said: “I was contacted by Emma Gliddon the pastoral lead at Holsworthy Primary School. She told me of some local families who were going to struggle this Christmas.

“I thought it would be great if we could help them out in some way. I got in contact with Miles from the Holsworthy Foodbank and asked if it was possible to sort some food parcels at late notice.

“He was very helpful and with the help of James at the Bideford Foodbank Hub they managed to put some food parcels together.

“Now, food is one thing but I then thought how sad it would be if some of the children went without even having a present on Christmas day. So I spoke with The Balsdon Trust, Holsworthy Lions club and the Town Council and managed to secure some funds to buy some presents as well.

“Whilst this was all happening I also spoke to Mr Sweeney, the head teacher at the Holsworthy Community College who also put forward some families in need this Christmas.

“Back to the Foodbank and they were incredible and put together some more food parcels at the very last minute. I’m so happy to say we have managed to help out 20 families this Christmas and hopefully put some smiles on some of the children’s faces.

“Thank you to everyone who has helped in any way make all this possible. Special thanks to all the volunteers at the foodbanks, the staff at the Schools and to the organisations for sponsoring. Once again an amazing effort by our local community.”