A project which aims to swap children’s party bags with less wasteful presents has been given over £9,600 by the National Lottery.
Kendal mum-of-two Charlotte Mason-Curl set up The Kids Party Pact in January this year.
Charlotte said: “Speaking to friends with primary school aged children, I’d heard many grumbles about children’s parties.
“The number of parties, spending money on presents for people they don’t know, and the ‘stuff’ that comes home from party bags and gifts. We have the power to change social norms around gifting at children’s parties.
“We can make it okay – and totally normal – to give pre-loved or homemade gifts, experiences, money or no gift at all. We can end the tradition of tat-filled party bags.”
Charlotte spoke to Cumbria Crack about the project earlier this year.
Until now, Charlotte has been running the project in her spare time, but the £9,680 from the National Lottery Community Fund will allow her to dedicate a day a week to The Kids Pact.
The pact pledges to:
- Give gift guidance on invitations (e.g. pre-loved encouraged, or ‘no gifts’)
- Give second-hand, homemade or sustainable party favours (or none at all)
- Give pre-loved, homemade or sustainable presents when possible (or no gift)
The new funding will help Charlotte:
- Recruit five more ambassadors in Cumbria to champion the pact
- Partner with schools, PTAs, councils, and community groups
- Host toy swaps to encourage reuse and reduce Christmas waste
- Launch a party kit hire service (eco-friendly tableware and decorations)
- Grow the community to 5,000 signed pacts
Charlotte said if 5,000 families sign up, the Kids Party Pact could prevent the purchase of an estimated 340,000 plastic items – from party bag fillers to birthday gifts.
She added: “I’m bowled over by the support and engagement we’ve had for The Kids Party Pact campaign so far.
“Parents are fed up with clutter coming into their homes, plastic-filled party bags and the financial pressure that the current gifting culture creates.
“By opening up the conversation, we’re giving parents the confidence to break away from these norms, and do things in a more affordable and sustainable way. This funding means I can dedicate a day a week to the campaign, and increase the impact.”
She is supported by Future Fixers CIC and Karen Bentley- Brown, director, said: “The Kids Party Pact has already made a positive impact on reducing the amount of waste at children’s parties and we’re delighted to be able to support Charlotte to take her campaign to the next level.”
