Clare Berry

MORE disadvantaged children in Welwyn Hatfield will receive the support they need this year, after three county councillors clubbed together.

Cllr Malcolm Cowan

Cllrs Clare Berry (Hatfield North), Malcolm Cowan (Handside and Peartree) and Steven Markiewicz have contributed £1,900 from their locality budgets to the Hertfordshire Charity for Deprived Children.

The charity has made a difference to the lives of almost 6,500 youngsters in the county since it was founded in 1961.

It offers practical help in the form of buying items such as beds and school uniforms, and sometimes pays for children to take a much-needed break from their home environment

In a joint statement, the councillors said: “Most children in WGC and Hatfield grow up in loving and caring environments.

Steven Markiewicz

“But a few face problems which can really affect their self-esteem and happiness.

“Those children with severe and immediate needs – those in physical danger, for example – are prioritised by the local authority.

“But there are children who, while not being on the critical list, live with day-to-day disadvantage, with very little outside support.

“The Hertfordshire Charity For Deprived Children seeks to bridge that gap and we are proud to support such a worthwhile cause.”