Member Article

Waymark aims to help children and families charity grow

A CHARITY providing vital support for children and families across Tyneside has signed an innovative partnership with a local software company.

Footsteps Children’s Services have delivered childcare through nurseries, crèches, playgroups and out-of-school provision since 2004.

Two years ago Paul Lofthouse, Commercial Director at Waymark, an expanding IT company based at Swalwell, joined the charity’s board, and now Waymark have agreed to formally partner the charity.

Claire Taylor, Chief Executive Officer at Footsteps, said: “We’re delighted to be working in such a close partnership with our friends at Waymark. Their staff will be fundraising, helping us at events, obviously we’ll be drawing on their tech expertise, and they’ve also offered us marketing support too.

“One exciting project we’re already working on is a DIY SOS day when members of the Waymark team will come over to our Dolphin Street centre and paint the premises.”

The partnership was announced at an event at Newcastle’s Vermont Hotel attended by members of staff from Waymark and some of their clients, and members of the charity’s team and some of their key supporters.

Footsteps offer five main services for hundreds of children and families at four different Tyneside centres: Westgate, Nunsmoor, Dolphin Street and Darras Hall. The charity caters for children from birth to the age of 11.

“Our long term strategy is to grow our number of centres, and we’re hoping Waymark can help us achieve this - but we will only take on future settings which align to our ethos and culture of delivering first class services in an inclusive environment,” added Claire.

“We’re just pleased to be able to help,” said Paul Lofthouse. “I became a board member of the charity two years ago after being introduced to Claire. I was impressed by their commitment, expertise and approach. Their work is really inspiring, particularly in the West End of Newcastle where their diverse and dedicated team works very closely with many families who don’t speak English as their first language – between them the team speaks 11 different languages.

“Waymark is a successful, ambitious company and we recognize that we’re in the position where we can put something back into the community which is exactly what we want to do with Footsteps,” he added.

Some children are referred to Footsteps, others are signed up after parents or guardians hear about the wide variety of childcare services they offer through word of mouth.

Waymark has offices in Swalwell and Sunderland and was set up seven years ago, developing software for utility services. It has since expanded into the education, health, logistics and commercial sectors, working with more than 30 clients. Last year the company won the Creative Industries Award at the prestigious Northern Lights Awards.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Lofthouse .