Launched for the first time last year, the Kenilworth Advent Calendar is a fundraiser for local causes. But what is the money used for?

Two of the named charities are Compassionate Kenilworth (CK) and the Kenilworth Centre (tKC) which each received £2,000 from last year's calendar.

CK - which delivers projects to ease social isolation - has been using the money received last year to help set up a series of cost-of-living/warm hub activities throughout the town.

Money from calendar sales has gone towards supporting multiple events for local Kenilworth children, families and individuals as well as locally placed asylum seekers.

This has included a digital tech café which provides regular free-to-access digital support for anyone needing a bit of guidance with phones, tablets or laptops

"Funding from Rotary helped us to continue to deliver the tech café while we sought longer term funding," organisers said.

Other events have included a monthly free dinner, live music and warm space, and a board games hub where people are encouraged to come and play games and meet new people.

Funding has also helped to set up two food support schemes at Kenilworth School for children who turn up at school hungry.

Both charities work together on these projects to ensure that young people are supported to learn without having to worry about not getting breakfast or lunch.

tKC has also used its funding to part-finance its youth workers who support students with mentoring at Kenilworth School.

Students are referred to the mentoring program by staff or parents.

They meet with one of tKC's youth workers weekly to discuss issues that are impacting their lives due to a host of issues, such as: bereavement or loss, carer support, transition to secondary school, friendship & relationship issues, exam stress and anxiety, challenging behaviour and anger management, support around low attendance, antisocial behaviour and setting boundaries.

They continue to provide mentoring as a free-to-access service at the new Kenilworth School & Sixth Form site. Without this funding, they would be unable to reach so many young people at a pivotal point in their lives.

Click here to find out more about Compassionate Kenilworth, and find out more about the Kenilworth Centre here.