Charitable Foundation funds family support services

Thursday 24 July 2014

The Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands has made a donation of £28,000 towards the provision of family support services for Samarès and Le Squez.

Family Nursing & Home Care (FNHC) has begun to make use of a vacant building next door to Samarès Primary School to set up a Child and Family Centre, working directly with the school, in partnership with Health and Social Services and the Education Department. The charity will ensure that its work is aimed at children as young as possible (0-3 years), is specifically focused on local families and directly involves parents and carers.

 Family Nursing and Home Care (FNHC) is a Jersey charity providing nursing care in the community from birth to end of life. The charity touches the lives of more islanders than any other charitable organisation, helping children, their families, the sick, the elderly and the dying.

The centre’s aims are to improve outcomes for young children and their families, in order to reduce inequalities and the social determinants of health and well being in:

• Child development and school readiness
• Parenting aspirations and skills
• Child and family health and life chances

The support that FNHC will provide at the Child and Family Centre will help local children to reach their full potential.

Thanks to the donation from the foundation, FNHC has appointed a manager for the centre and is now drawing together a vision, aims and objectives for the local families that wish to take advantage of the opportunities available at the centre.

"This grant from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands will make a real difference to local families for years to come. That is because evidence shows that the earlier we are able to support families in need, the more successful the outcomes are likely to be, and the longer the period over which the effects will be felt," said Michelle Cumming, operational lead at FNHC for Child & Family Services.

The Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands is one of the largest sources of charitable funding in the islands, dispensing almost £1million a year in the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey. It derives its funding entirely from Lloyds Banking Group but is legally independent of the Lloyds Group and an independent board of trustees determines the policies. The foundation recently entered into a new covenant to provide long-term continuity of financial support.

The chairman of the local foundation is John Boothman and the deputy chairman is Guernsey Jurat Dr John Ferguson. The executive director is John Hutchins.
"To be involved and in a position to support children’s development and parenting skills is critical to society. As a charitable foundation we are delighted to assist," said Mr Hutchins.