As children prepare for the new school term, staff and volunteers at family support charity Home-Start Winchester and Districts are reflecting on the success and challenges of this year’s Summer Fun Club.
The Fun Club - which is held in marquees supplied at 'generously' discounted rates by Medstead Marquees - provides opportunities for children and parents to relax, make friends and try new activities through the long summer holiday.
The project began in 2020 after Covid lockdown caused school closures. But the popularity and the success of the programme led the charity to seek special funding to continue its work.
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After packing away following another busy summer, scheme manager Liz Stannard admitted to being “exhausted but delighted.”
She said: “Children created works of art, slept under the shade of the trees, petted the animals, enjoyed the cool of the paddling pool, watched and produced puppet shows, made pizzas and picnics, built dens out of cardboard, spent time as shop keepers, and wanted to come back each day for more.
“Parents have built new friendships, renewed old ones, and sought the help and support of each other. They have had the opportunity to be creative whilst their children played safely.”
Home-Start Winchester is part of the national Home-Start movement each of which is an independent charity supporting families in their local community.
The charity’s services are provided by a team of volunteers who are recruited, trained and given on-going support by a small staff team.
Volunteers provide free, informal and confidential support to families with at least one child under five, for at least two hours once a week, generally for between six and 12 months.
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Home-Start families may be struggling with many issues. These can include loneliness and isolation, coping with twins, triplets or several pre-school children, ill health, disability and special needs, relationship difficulties and children’s behavioural problems.
Ms Stannard paid tribute to the volunteers who had helped deliver the programme – and to her Home-Start colleagues.
“There has been lots of fun and laughter along with the occasional tears," she added.
"The amount of emotional energy needed to support families for the three week activity programme is massive. The staff team have been awesome - we generate such energy and enthusiasm from one another and I am so privileged to work with such a tremendous bunch of people.”
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