A child protection charity is calling on people of Clackmannanshire to get creative at lunchtime next month.

The NSPCC Scotland’s Big Packed Lunch initiative urges people to organise a lunchtime get-together and donate the money they would have spent on their usual lunch to the NSPCC to help fund its ChildLine Schools Service.

Sara Ling, NSPCC Scotland fundraiser, said, “It’s a really simple idea and we want people to have fun with the Big Packed Lunch and get everyone together to share their lunch goodies, and at the same time raise vital funds for the NSPCC.

“We hope that lots of local people will take part on 17 September, but if anyone wants to stage a lunch on another date that’s fine too.” The ChildLine Schools Service uses trained volunteers to deliver age-appropriate workshops and assemblies to 9-11 year olds in order to educate them about abuse, how to protect themselves, and where to get help if they need it.

Between January 2012 and June 2014 the service carried out 11 school visits in Clackmannanshire, reaching approximately 582 children.

Sara added, “With the support of local people we can visit every primary school in the region and give children the confidence to talk about abuse and the courage to seek help if they ever need it.” The NSPCC has produced a Big Packed Lunch fundraising pack which includes hints and tips for staging an event. It can be found at www.nspcc.org.uk/lunch