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National Express

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas? Is it seeing the family? Sharing presents with loved ones? Catching up with friends? To be in with a chance of winning this amazing M&S Christmas family hamper, all you need to do is fill in the blank... "This Christmas, I'm most looking forward to _________" #ChristmasPresence 🎅🎁

National Express Foundation

OLIO HUB in Darlaston has received one of our £20,000 grants to develop activities for young people. Nikki recently visited Sandra Adams at the Hub to present her with the funding award. Six small projects that had previously been piloted and well received by young people using the hub will be supported with the funding. It means 375 young people aged between 7 and 25 can enjoy the different Olio activities which include Born to Perform, Boxfit, Perfect Pitch, Loco Acadamy, Stretch & Flex, and Funky Fusion. Olio was formed in 2012 as a direct result of public consultation in the Darlaston area of the West Midlands which identified that local young people didn't have a facility or any structured out of school activities to join in with. Olio Hub is now also used by other community groups which host their own activities on site for the wider community to enjoy. We've provided funding support for the group since 2013 because of the fantastic results they achieve. The group is constantly thinking of new ways to deliver engagement activities for young people and it's been fantastic to see them grow. Sandra Adams, Olio Hub, said: “Words cannot describe how excited we are to have been given further support by the National Express Foundation. It will help us go forward with bringing our exciting new plans into fruition. “Olio really has been put back on the map by the National Express Foundation and we are so grateful for the continued support. Our community will certainly be a better place for the new activities.”