Daily Mirror

Seashells were there for me when I was struggling

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WITH no family nearby to support her, and growing financial problems, expectant new mum Joanne Lang was struggling.

But she turned the corner when she was helped by a remarkable community centre on the Kent coast.

Seashells Children and Families Centre in Sheerness, on the Isle of Sheppey, offers families a range of services, classes and workshops that support and change lives.

Since 2005, the centre has run a children’s creche and nursery, while health visitors oversea antenatal, breastfeed­ing and child developmen­t classes.

Joanne, 29, was supported through her pregnancy and after giving birth to Damon, now five.

She says: “I was a new mum and it all got a bit much. They gave me my confidence back.”

The centre’s manager, Pat Bacon, explains: “Basically we are here to offer help to all those in greater need. We try to offer preventati­ve services.” This year alone, the centre has supported 9,540 family members. Seashells has been chosen as a TSB Local Charity Partner by the bank’s Isle of Sheppey branch. Janine Harris, cashier and charity ambassador, says: “We’ve been proud to raise funds for them.”

 ??  ?? CONFIDENT Joanne with son Damon
CONFIDENT Joanne with son Damon

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