WINCHESTER charity Friends of the Family has been boosted by a big grant.

The award of £20,000 from the National Lottery, will support the Mums’ and Young Children’s Project, a group service aiming to help young families overcome adversity.

This project provides mums with group therapy sessions with a trained counsellor, whilst their children are looked after by play workers.

Hampshire Chronicle: A Friends of the Family volunteer playing with a babyA Friends of the Family volunteer playing with a baby (Image: Friends of the Family)

The project aims to provide mental health support and guidance, as well as create a support network, reducing isolation and improving wellbeing.

The new funding, which has come from The National Lottery Community Fund, has enabled the charity to increase its provision from one to two group sessions per week.

READ MORE: Winchester charity which has supported families for decades needs new volunteers

Friends of the Family, which is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, is one of Winchester’s longest-standing community charities.

Chris Bale, chair of trustees at Friends of the Family, welcomed the news: “The Mums and Young Children’s project may be 30 years old, but it is needed now more than ever. The importance of early years intervention cannot be overstated, and thanks to this funding decision by the National Lottery we will be able to continue to deliver our service for the rest of 2024.” 

Katharine Duchesne, Mums and Young Children project lead, added: “Our Mums come to the group for a variety of reasons including isolation and mental health issues. Within our non-judgmental space they find warm mutual support and an opportunity to work through and process difficult aspects of the present and the past.”