Independent paper merchant Premier Paper Group has provided support to Crowborough-based Longridge Print, helping to fund a UK project for the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children charity.

The charity works to provide respite and opportunities for children living in poverty-stricken Belarus following the after-effects of the 1986 nuclear disaster. This marks the third consecutive year that Premier has been involved with the project.

For one month each year the children are hosted by UK families and benefit from an activity programme based at an outdoor camping facility. Here they spend time in fresh air and receive clothes and healthy food along with basic medical treatment.

Premier once again sponsored the four-day camping experience, which was led by Tim Kirwin of Wilder Things UK, in conjunction with woodland conservation charity the Woodland Trust.

Kirwin hosted activities including multi-coloured parachute games, paper lantern making using branches and materials found in the wilderness, and constructing bows and arrows. Each day was rounded off with the children helping to prepare a nutritious meal, cooked over an open fire.

On the final evening the children presented gifts that they had made during their stay to their host families.

Premier CSR marketing manager Hussein Ismail said: “Longridge Print is a long-term customer of ours. A few years ago they told us they were getting involved every year with the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children charity and we thought it would be a nice thing to get involved with too.

“Initially they came to us to ask if we could supply any items or giveaways for the children.

“We thought long and hard about that, and as nice as it is to give presents like a bottle or a ball to children, we thought it would be nice to provide them with a positive learning experience in the UK that they would remember and help them create some happy memories that they can take home with them.”

From Print Week
https://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1165222/premier-supports-friends-of-chernobyl-s-children-charity