A MYSTERY donor, who was appalled to learn that children in Oxford are going hungry, has made the county’s first Jubilee Grant a reality.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, has donated £1,000 to the Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire, which has been set up in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year to support struggling charities and community groups in the county.

He told fund organisers at the Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) that he had been inspired to help after reading a story on the rising pressure on Foodbanks in the Oxford Mail in April.

The article told how Oxford’s Community Foodbank is dealing with an increasing number of people who are struggling to feed their children.

Ashley Merry from OCF said: “The donor told us that he could not believe that children were still going hungry in the city, in this day and age, and that he wanted to do whatever he could to help.

“We were bowled over by his generosity and now hope others will be spurred into donating to the fund too.”

The donor’s bequest will be awarded to The Hawkwell Trust, a charity which has been set up to form breakfast clubs in schools in the city’s most deprived areas.

The clubs make sure children start the day on a full stomach.

David Baron, 58, is finance director at the Oxford Academy, one of six schools in south east Oxford which set up The Hawkwell Trust.

He said: “The trust was set up by the Oxford Academy, Mabel Prichard School, Orchard Meadow School, Pegasus School, Rose Hill School and Windale School.

“These schools are all in the top 20 per cent of deprived areas in the United Kingdom.

“Breakfast clubs, like those currently running at the Oxford Academy and Pegasus School, are making a real difference.”

“When we learned we had been given £1000 we were over the moon. This gift will provide a lasting legacy for the children supported by the Hawkwell Trust.”

Pegasus Primary School in Blackbird Leys already runs a breakfast club for its pupils, using food donated by the Foodbank.

Headteacher Jill Hudson said: “Breakfast club can really set children up for the day and without it learning standards would be low.

“In breakfast club there is also a wonderful, family atmosphere."

The Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire was set up in January by the Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) which is asking people and groups across the county to make a difference in their own communities, by donating or becoming fundraisers.

OCF chief executive Jayne Woodley said: “We are delighted that our first Diamond Jubilee Grant has been given to such a wonderful group.

“The very generous gentleman who made this gift selected The Hawkwell Trust personally, as it touched his heart. He has made his own lasting legacy and his act of kindness will benefit many young people in Blackbird Leys.”

Since its launch in January, the Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire has raised £727,000.

Jayne Woodley said: “The wonderful Jubilee weekend undoubtedly encouraged people to support the Jubilee Fund, as a real way of thanking Her Majesty the Queen.

“This says a great deal about the generosity of Oxfordshire.

“And the support of the Oxford Mail has been invaluable to us and helped us achieve this great result.”

* To donate to the Jubilee Fund or to volunteer to fundraise on its behalf, email jubilee@oxfordshire.org, call 01865 798666, or drop into OCF’s offices at 3 Woodins Way, Oxford. Alternatively, donate by phone by texting JBLE 12 to 70070 with a donation. To apply for Jubilee Fund cash, visit oxfordshire.org