Easter fun and frolics at Fox Valley market relaunch

Local older people’s charity Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) joined forces with Fox Valley shopping centre to relaunch the Friday markets just in time for Easter.

The charity, which is Fox Valleys Charity of the Year for 2023 hopped at the chance to get involved with the relaunch of the markets and to celebrate Easter by hosting a children’s craft area. SCCCC fundraisers Kimberley France and Ericka Hill dressed as Easter bunnies and were on hand to talk to visitors about the work the charity does to support isolated and vulnerable older people in Sheffield.

Kimberley France said: ‘’Being able to support Fox Valley with the relaunch was a great opportunity for us. Not only did we get to spread the word about the free services that we provide to the people of Sheffield but we enjoyed seeing the young children make Easter crafts.’’

There was a real party atmosphere with live music from Red House, a Stocksbridge two-man band and street dance routine by children from Spotlight School of Dance, some as young as 4 years old.

But attending the market wasn’t all about fun and frolic, there was a clear message to the visitors at the centre.

Ericka Hill, Fundraiser, Marketing and Communications Officer at SCCCC said: ‘’We have a waiting list of isolated older people in this area who are waiting for a volunteer to visit them on a regular basis. Hopefully, by attending the markets we can recruit more kind people to donate just an hour a week to visit an older person in their community. Loneliness is cruel and our older people do not deserve to spend hours, even days of their lives with no one to talk to.’’

The Friday markets will become a regular attraction with local producers and crafters selling their wares.

Claire Biltcliffe, Centre Manager at Fox Valley, Stocksbridge, said: “It is amazing to see the market thriving again! The relaunch has been a great success and we are grateful to our traders for attending with such lovely products and for the local community for coming to support them and our charity of the year.’’

If you could spare an hour a week to volunteer with SCCCC please email volunteers@scccc.co.uk

To find out more about the work they do to support vulnerable older people in Sheffield and Doncaster head to their website: www.scccc.co.uk

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