Free Starcamp extension
Over 200,000 children were entertained by an online camp earlier this month that is being extended for all of January.
Starcamp had a whirlwind response to the free online camp that it offered to children nationwide. Following the announcement of school closures, and in response to the overwhelming demand that the camp is are experiencing, it will be extended until the end of January.
In return, Starcamp is asking that anyone who can and would like to, to make a donation to Focus Ireland on its behalf.
This decision came on the back of Aideen O’Grady, owner of Starcamp, being contacted by Focus Ireland who wanted an extension of free access to the camp so that children it supports could engage with it. This struck a chord with Aideen and Paul, the husband and wife team behind the camp, who decided that they would extend the offering, not only for the children who are homeless, but for every child.
Focus Ireland, the national housing and homelessness charity, supports around 4,000 children who are homeless or at risk across its services every year.
Rather than take donations, Aideen and Paul want to pay it forward: “Teaming up with Focus Ireland at this moment in time just feels right. With the pandemic causing job losses, business closures and a probable recession, apparently these are the classic circumstances for rise in homelessness, something we as a nation should try to prevent at all costs.
“We totally understand that so many people are under financial pressure right now, this is for not for you, this is for those lucky enough to have an extra €2 to spare and wanted to give something. There are thousands of children homeless in Ireland right now and we just find this completely heart-breaking. We are worried about having to stay at home for a month, they don’t have a home!”
Niamh Lambe, Project Leader with the Family Homeless Action Team in Focus Ireland, said: “This is so generous of Starcamp and much needed respite for all children but especially homeless children who are further marginalised by the Covid crises. Every day Focus Ireland move families out of homelessness.
“We believe it is crucial to support families’ emotional needs while they are living with the uncertainty of homelessness. It has been heartwarming to hear the feedback from parents and children of how this camp has given families we support an escape from the reality of lockdown while homeless.”
The online camp can be downloaded at any time and runs over five days. It offers children 90 minutes of magic, games, performance, science, baking, jokes and much more each day. Contributors include Keith Barry and Don Conroy along with lots of the usual Starcamp team who many children will know from the summer and Easter camps.
Sign up for the online camp at starcamp.ie, go to the page Virtual Camp - Jan 21 at the top of the page and then fill in your details. To make a donation to Focus Ireland, visit focusireland.ie/donate/from/2021stargaze.