Funding for charity to give island children the best start in life

James Qualtrough | March 6, 2013 | 0 Comments

Home-Start in Guernsey has received a major boost with a donation of £25,000 per year for two years from the Lloyds TSB Foundation.

The charity, which supports families with the aim of giving children the best possible start in life, is using the money for its co-ordinators salary and the ongoing volunteer training programme.

Home-Start in Guernsey recently recruited 12 new volunteers who commenced training in January. On completion of the ten-week long programme, they will strengthen the existing 27-strong team of volunteers who, when matched with a family will provide support in situations such as isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness, disability – or who are just finding parenting a struggle.

The Chairman of Home-Start in Guernsey, Jurat Margaret Spaargaren, thanked the Lloyds TSB Foundation on behalf of all the families, the volunteers and staff at Home-Start, adding that in the current times, finding funding was increasingly difficult.

‘We are required by Home Start UK to ensure that we maintain funding to sustain our work for one full year. The Lloyds TSB Foundation has helped us to achieve this which is a major boost for everyone connected with Home-Start and especially those families we support.’

In 2012 Home-Start in Guernsey supported 54 families with 78 children under five years and 44 children above the age of five. Families are sometimes referred by professional health organisations in the islands or can refer themselves. When matched with a family, a volunteer will visit the family at home. The support provided is confidential, non-judgemental practical and emotional support and help in order to build the family’s confidence and ability to cope.

The Lloyds TSB Foundation for the Channel Islands has donated in excess of £12 million to charities in the Channel Islands, the UK and overseas since it’s inception in 1985. It is a grant-making trust that decides on and makes donations to charities in both bailiwicks. Its mission is to support and work in partnership with charitable organisations which help people, especially those who are disadvantaged or disabled, to play a fuller role in communities throughout the Channel Islands.

The Foundations are legally independent of the Lloyds TSB Group and independent boards of trustees determine their policies. The Chairman of the local foundation is Jurat Stephen Jones and the Executive Director is John Hutchins.
Mr Hutchins said: ‘This Charity, which concentrates on the very young, we believe to be very important to Guernsey and as such we have been delighted to assist with their funding.’