A SCOUT group is working to provide food and gifts for disadvantaged families this Christmas.

Scouts of all ages from the 1st Chandler's Ford Scout Group have been busy this week donating items, decorating food parcels, and packing food and presents as part of the groups newest project.

On Tuesday, as part of the 'Christmas Box' initiative, volunteers packed the boxes into their vehicles and delivered them to the doors of families in need across Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh.

Around 80 children and 30 families are said to have benefited from the project, receiving boxes Christmas dinner ingredients, treats, and gifts, just in time for Christmas.

Group Scout Leader, Paul Carcone said: “In short, our plan is to make sure that all children we help, spend Christmas Day with a full tummy, lots of goodies, a teddy to cuddle, and a book to read, or have read to them.

"In our Group, Scouting is far more than just collecting badges and the activities of our Young People do not end at the Boundary of our Hut.

"We very much see our role as creating fine young adults who are aware of and are prepared to tackle global issues as well as those on our doorstep”.

The project was funded by previous donations, made when the scout group ran an initiative to help feed children during the October half term.

Having had money left over, donated from members of the public, those funds were then used to purchase items for the Christmas boxes.

Paul said that any food left over from this project will be donated to the scout groups local food bank in order to each the people who need it.

Cub member, 9-year-old, Matthew, said: “We should keep doing kind things even when times are difficult, because it makes you feel good about yourself and makes others feel good too.”