Chesterfield FC Community Trust and Chesterfield Cricket Club have joined together to bring some festive cheer to families in the town.

Together they have driven a project to provide Christmas hampers for 500 families in the Chesterfield Borough Council area.

The hampers contain essential food items such as potatoes, milk, fruit and vegetables, together with household items including soap, washing powder and toys.

Families receiving them have been nominated by schools and have children who receive free school meals.

The hampers were funded by the Department of Education’s Holiday Activity Food (HAF) programme, which was set up two years ago as a result of the Covid lockdowns to provide cover during holiday periods for the children of families receiving free school meals.

Jayne Bacon, the Trust’s chief operating officer, said: “The Trust offer Camp Inspire to children where we provide a hot meal, two hours of physical activity, nutrition and enrichment sessions and lots of fun with friends in the holidays.

“We are delighted to have also been able to bid for 500 Christmas hampers through StreetGames, who manage the scheme for Derbyshire County Council, and we were successful.”

The project, led by the Trust’s Becks White, needed a venue where the hampers could be put together, stored and collected.

The Trust approached Chesterfield Cricket Club who were happy for the Queen’s Park pavilion to be used.

Chairman Nigel Mallender said: “Chesterfield Cricket Club is a community club and this is the kind of initiative that is right at the heart of the community.

“It is a tough time for so many families at the moment and I am really glad we have been able to assist in some small way with such a worthwhile initiative. A big well done to Jayne, Becks and the Trust team.”

Jayne added: “Becks has been responsible for ordering the food, arranging the staff, volunteers and co-ordinating all the deliveries and collections to create a truly magical hamper.

“She has been helped by Trust staff, members of the football club’s academy and students on their holiday break.

“Appropriately, for two sports clubs, it has been a real team effort to boost their local community.”

Chesterfield Football Club supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.