East Ham charity Bonny Downs Community Association (BDCA) today announced that its children and families project has been saved from closure and funded for three years thanks to support from Henry Smith Charity, an independent grant making trust.
The funding comes after seven Sure Start centres and several local family support charities have been forced to close or cut back in recent years. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of families struggle to make ends meet and raise children without enough resource or support.
Recognising the great need for family services in Newham, Henry Smith Charity’s grant will fund preventative and early intervention support for 1,200 people a year. BDCA’s staff, who all have experience of bringing up their own families in the borough, will deliver a wide range of activities, including affordable childcare solutions and a range of free programmes such as English classes, a family-friendly mental wellbeing drop-in service, and trained ‘peer support’ buddies.
Peter Laing, Chief Executive of Bonny Downs Community Association, said:
“We are very grateful to Henry Smith Charity for this funding which will have long-term benefits for the whole family unit and future generations to come. Vulnerable parents will be able to build supportive friendship networks so they no longer have to face the joys and challenges of parenthood alone. Our project will bring together local people from a diverse range of backgrounds and help parents to build happy memories with their family and provide the best possible start for their children.”
To get involved with BDCA’s Family Project, visit www.bonnydowns.org/families or follow them on twitter @bdca247 and facebook.com/bonnydowns for regular updates.
