PARCELS from Prudhoe have been winging their way to all corners of the globe as the town’s young people send their support to the armed forces.

Youngsters at Ferndene, a children and young people’s in-patient facility, have been putting their time and energy into the ‘Shoeboxes for our Heroes’ campaign.

The appeal sends ‘morale boxes’ to troops deployed away from home.

At Ferndene’s Fraser Unit, for young people with learning difficulties, youngsters have been collecting donations and packing up parcels to send overseas.

Young people in the unit, aged from 11 to 18, have all got involved in the project.

For some it is an opportunity to complete the volunteering section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Nursing assistant and activities lead at the Fraser unit, Peter Haddow, said: “Some of the young people are also taking part in the Northumberland Challenge.

“And we’ve developed a Ferndene Challenge so the under-14s can also get involved.”

The unit began supporting Shoeboxes For Our Heroes in December 2015.

So far, the young people have packed up and sent 61 parcels oveseas; this month, six will go to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The boxes are filled with dried food, tinned food, sweets, biscuits, toiletries, magazines and games.

And the youngsters at Ferndene have already received feedback from soldiers, grateful to receive a taste of home.

Peter said: “It’s lovely that they’ve taken the time to reply.

“The young people are really enjoying it, they think it’s great.

“They understand the feeling of being away from home.

“Donations have been coming from staff and families; Prudhoe is a good and generous community.”

A collection box for any donations for the shoebox appeal is accessible at the reception of Ferndene in Prudhoe.

And anyone wishing to help can contact Peter by email at: peter.haddow@ntw.nhs.uk