Home-Start Bridlington and Driffield were notified by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in August that their funding would be cut at the end of March next year.
Workers at Home-Start have been making efforts to find new avenues of funding for the service which offers support and back-up to local families who may be struggling to cope with post-natal illness, isolation, bereavement or disability.
“I’ve lost count of the number of letters we have sent out to attract funding,” said Nicky Wordsworth, senior co-ordinator at Home-Start, which is based at the Community Resource Centre on Victoria Road.
So far, kind hearted local groups have donated money to try and keep the service alive once council funding stops.
Bridlington Lions donated £500, the Ladies Lions donated £200, local couple Mr and Mrs Woodcock raised £150 while Bridlington Rotary Club donated £100.
“We are really worried about what is going to happen if we close to those families that we help,” “Some have been in dire situations and we have helped them, one family wouldn’t have been here without the support that our service provides.
“There are other services in Bridlington and Driffield that can help young families but they don’t offer the same sort of round the clock care as our volunteers can. The times when people feel at their most lonely and vulnerable, evenings, weekends or school holidays, are the times that we can be there to help,” continued Nicky.
“Our volunteers have been there before and build up a relationship with families that means we can get to the root of their problems - which is difficult to do with services that only open 9-5.”
The service is currently offering support to 26 local families and has helped more than 300 families, which means more than 450 children, in the twelve years they have been open.
Pam Allen, head of children and young people’s support and safeguarding services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council confirmed after the council’s decision in August that funding will come to an end on March 31 next year.
“As with all local authorities, we are reviewing all our services and need to prioritise. We have difficult decisions to make based on our resources available.
“This is not a reflection on the service that has been delivered but with our own children’s centres going from strength to strength and outreach work developing, we are able to reach more families.”
Home-Start have organised two fundraising nights in the next week. The first is a night of live music is to be held tomorrow, Friday December 2 at the The Bluebell, on Riverhead in Driffield.
The show features York singer/songwriter Andy Stones, Bridlington’s Ben Parcell, Drifiield musicians Dogfinger, and former Brontes member Jasper Bolton and Hull rapper 4 Eyez. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets for the show are £5, available on the door.
A christmas fayre will also be held at the at the Community Resource Centre on Victoria Road, next Thursday, December 8, from 6.30pm-9.30pm.
The fayre features a gift raffle, Christmas stalls and a visit from Santa - and tickets cost £1.
If you have any fundraising ideas for Home-Start, please contact their office on 01262 605020.
Source www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/
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