Littlehampton charity’s grant boost

Home-Start Arun is celebrating with its volunteers following the news, announced on Tuesday (October 16)by the Big Lottery Fund.

The cash will now help to support the organisation for the next three years – something which staff at the good cause said couldn’t have come at a better time.

Bridget Richardson, senior organiser with Home-Start Arun, said she was thrilled with the financial injection.

“Like many small charities and voluntary organisations we were struggling for running costs, without enough to even get through until the end of the financial year,” she said.

The Big Lottery Fund is the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding across the UK.

The initiative aims to enable others to make real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.

The news of the grant award was celebrated during a tea and coffee afternoon at the Burpham Country House Hotel. The afternoon also helped praise the dedicated band of volunteers committed to helping the service.

Bridget added: “We see the Big Lottery grant as an opportunity, not only to continue the important work our volunteers already do, but to expand the operation to cover an increasing number of referrals for support.

“We will soon be recruiting for an additional member of staff to allow us to expand our service to work with migrant families.

“Another exciting prospect will be to provide social work placements, to give students an opportunity to experience supporting families through early intervention.”

The group delivers home visiting support to families with children under-five who are having difficulties. Volunteers offer regular support, friendship and practical help to families under stress in their own homes, helping to prevent family crisis and breakdown.

Each volunteer is matched with one or two families and visits them every week for a few hours to offer support through difficult times, for as long as it is helpful or needed.

The cash will now help the charity recruit and train more staff than ever before.

The next training course will take place on November 6. For information, or to find out how else you can help the charity, call 01903 889707.