The Stockton Family Action & Outreach Service offers a variety of support and advice to families living across an area including Billingham, Stockton, Thornaby and Ingelby Barwick who are facing a range of different challenges.
Delivered in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, the service aim to provide support to families when they first need it and develops new initiatives which meet their developing needs.
Developed in response to issues identified by the Stockton Child Poverty Network around the impact that the cost-of-living crisis is having on children, young people and families, Family Action is now launching a new Family Support Fund.
The fund will provide micro-grants that enable children and young people to take part in activities and experiences that will help reduce feelings of isolation, mental ill health and enhance family life, with each approved application also seeing the recipient receiving an age-appropriate gift, such as books or bath toys, which will help to promote positive engagement and interaction with parents/carers.
The project, which is being funded this year through a £2,000 grant from County Durham-based employer the Banks Group, will also enable Stockton Family Action to increase its interaction with more local families and will help them identify any areas where additional support might be provided.
Founded in 2018 as part of the national Family Action charity, The Stockton Family Action & Outreach Service works with around 200 local families every year.
In common with every other North East local authority area, Stockton-on-Tees has seen a marked increase in the number/percentage of children living in relative poverty after housing costs over the last decade, with every area in the region now having a relative child poverty rate that is notably above the UK average.
Louise Anderson, volunteer and community engagement coordinator at Stockton Family Action, says: “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.
“We’ve been really keen to get this project off the ground, but haven’t had the funding available to make it happen before now, so we’re really grateful to the Banks Group for giving us the opportunity to make even more of a difference to the local community.”
Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, adds: "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.”
The Banks Group’s community funds are independently managed by Point North (formerly the County Durham Community Foundation).
Anyone from a community close to a Banks Group project who is interested in applying for funding from the Banks Community Fund should contact the company via its website enquiry form ( www.banksgroup.co.uk/contact-us/) to find out if their group or project is eligible.