£90k grant for group helping support local families in need

A MOORLANDS group which helps to support families has been awarded a grant of more than £90,000.

Home-start Staffordshire Moorlands has been awarded a grant of £91,207 over three years by BBC Children in Need.

The grant will fund a Fun Start project delivering volunteer support to families in the early years to aid school readiness and help make a difference to the lives of children and young people facing disadvantage right here in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Home-start Staffordshire Moorlands said that the pandemic has made things additionally difficult for families with young children, with the closure of community resources, some statutory services unable to visit, and with many families unable to have the support of friends and families due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The charity said that this has had a real impact on the most vulnerable children in the district, but that BBC Children in Need funding will provide support to families with young children to ensure they have the help they need to give their children the best start possible.

Home-start Staffordshire Moorlands’ Fun Start project will match volunteers with families needing support, enabling children to have support to access groups, activities and outside space locally, to encourage play and early learning and to build parents and children’s confidence while supporting them to realise their potential.

The funding will enable Home-start to continue to recruit and train volunteers from the community to home visit families and for volunteer coordinators to provide support and supervision to their volunteer team and provide expert help to families.

Louise Walker, manager at Home-start Staffordshire Moorlands, said: “This grant will go on to change the lives of so many young people and give them the support they need.”