The generous £5,000 grant from the London Freemasons is going to be used to develop a programme for children from crisis families to be better prepared for when they start education. A lot of focus has recently been on children who turn up to their first day not toilet trained or unable to engage in education in other ways, bringing pressure on schools, families and the children.
St. Vincents Family Project provides a community for families to bring pre-school children to, gives help and advice on welfare issues, runs programmes to develop knowledge, skill and confidence as a parent, and offers therapy for families having a bad time with mental and emotional issues. They also provide therapy to several Primary Schools across Westminster.
Why this has developed isn’t clear but increasing pressures on parents and the effect of Covid-19 are likely causes. The programme is for families using our services, and ensures children are best supported to develop physical, language and social skills, through our experienced staff team and volunteers. This includes providing a range of activities that are both fun for children, but also promote emotional, cognitive, physical, communication and emotional development.
Andrew Varley, CEO of St. Vincents Family Project said:
“it’s been really noticeable, especially since the pandemic, that more children are, developmentally, further behind, by the time they start school. This funding from London Freemasons will help us to make sure that children from disadvantaged backgrounds in Westminster, at least, will get the start they need in life”
Paul King of London Freemasons said:
“We have great pleasure in providing support for the work that St Vincents Family Project do in giving primary school children and their families the help they need to overcome other social disadvantages they may face”
