Family Support Fund launched in Teesside

A Teesside-based family support service is stepping up efforts to tackle child poverty by offering new funding to help children access everyday opportunities.

The Stockton Family Action & Outreach Service has launched a Family Support Fund to provide micro-grants for local families, enabling children to take part in activities that improve wellbeing and reduce isolation. 

Each grant will also include an age-appropriate gift.

Backed by a £2000 donation from Durham-based family business Banks Group, the initiative is delivered with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and aims to reach more families across Billingham, Thornaby, Ingleby Barwick and Stockton.

Louise Anderson, volunteer and community engagement coordinator at Stockton Family Action, said: “Families can find themselves in difficult situations that are completely outside of their control and this can often leave children in a position where they’re unable to participate in what most of us would see as the essential activities in life.

“When covering the cost of the family food bill or heating the house has become a real challenge, paying for things like swimming lessons, travel cards or new school uniform is going to be out of the question.

“Without appropriate support, these families can face serious hardship and can find themselves in a downward spiral, so we’re now looking to step in with tailored help that means local young people don’t miss out and that we have the chance to step in with more family support if new needs are identified.

“We’re confident that promoting inclusion of children in this way will help to reduce bullying and mental ill health issues, improve school attendance, promote positive parenting, reduce vulnerabilities and raise young people’s aspirations.”

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: “Stockton Family Action has identified a straightforward way in which it can improve the opportunities available to local young people and their families in both the short and longer-term.

“The new fund has the potential to make a significant local impact and we’re very pleased to be helping Stockton Family Action get things going.” 

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