Face paint in February for Crook kids' club

The St Catherine’s Kids Club in Crook was held every weekday after school with volunteers putting on activities and ensuring youngsters had a safe place to be.

But the club, which was held at St Catherine’s Community Centre, was cancelled in January after organisers missed out on vital funding.

Now club supporter Jo Yelland has embarked on a month-long charity challenge to raise funds for the resurrection of the after-school sessions, and also for the Kays Hill Animal Sanctuary near West Auckland.

She will wear face paint every day in February, and has already been decorated as Batman, the Incredible Hulk and a purple cat.

Future faces include a rainbow with frogs sliding down it, with sponsors able to choose how she paints her face.

Ms Yelland said: “I have been getting some odd looks that’s for sure, but it is all for a good cause.

“Originally I said I would do it for a week, but then the idea came up to do it for a whole month.

“Anything goes, apart from rude words or obscene images.

“These month long fundraisers are really popular now, what with Movember and Octobeard, it would be great if February face painting caught on, so long as it is done safely with the correct paints.”

Ms Yelland said the loss of the kids club had hit the youngsters hard.

She said: “Losing it was a big blow, it was a key service for the children and their families, a safe place for them to be in between leaving school and being able to go home.”

If they can raise enough funds to re-start the club, Ms Yelland said they also hope to start a walking bus to escort the children from school to the community centre in Crook market place.

The 30-year-old is also raising funds for Kays Hill Animal Sanctuary.

She said: “They have a lot going on that needs support, for example they had 21 cats spayed or neutered in one day, that is a big cost.”

To sponsor Ms Yelland, search for Jo Yelland on rockethub.com