A scheme to provide backpacks and stationery to school children ahead of the new year has attracted more than 120 items.

Madina Sharpe, a volunteer at the Foodbank, and Keith Sharpe, her husband, organised the scheme for kids who need the essentials before going back to school.

She said: ’So far we’ve got about 120 backpacks and some of them have extra items in there too.’

Mrs Sharpe explained why she decided to create the scheme.

The woman from Douglas added: ’There’s just an assumption that everybody has that everybody’s okay.

’What we are trying to do is highlight the need for something like this.’

This isn’t the first time she has arranged something like this.

Mrs Sharpe continued: ’Myself and my husband moved here in 2019 and we launched [a similar] campaign.

’I had read an article on Facebook where a group [in the UK] were collecting backpacks for kids in Malawi.

’I thought there was a need locally. Sometimes people do these things for people abroad but I think we have a need right here.’

Mrs Sharpe thanked everyone who had donated for ’being so generous’.

Any donations are still being accepted and can be taken to the Motor Mall near Douglas until tomorrow (August 27).

The backpacks will go to the Foodbank and then be distributed as needed from there.