LIGHTHOUSE, Poole has teamed up with Dorset Scrapstore and foodbanks in Poole and Bournemouth to offer young people without internet access the opportunity to gain an Arts Award Discover qualification.

By partnering with the arts and crafts recycling charity in Poole, 100 art packs will be available for families at Poole and Bournemouth foodbanks.

Dorset Scrapstore trustee, Carolyn Corr said: "We have had to close due to the current lockdown, so we were thrilled to be asked to make up craft packs for children during this time.

"Most of the items have been donated by local industry as unwanted ‘waste’ or ‘scrap’ and we love finding different ways of using them."

Each pack will contain materials to make paper chains, rolled paper beads and other art works that will count towards an Arts Award Discover certificate.

Lighthouse Chief Executive, Elspeth McBain said: "The brilliant thing about creative activities is that anyone can take part. Creativity fosters curiosity and encourages children to learn new things. By working with other community organisations we are really pleased we can provide the materials and opportunities to support and inspire creativity for local families."

The award itself is aimed at five- to nine-year-olds and is an introductory award certificated by Trinity College London for which young people collect evidence in an individual arts log of their experiences of participating in arts activities, researching artists and their work, and sharing their arts discoveries.