A VENTURE set up by a North East millionaire to help families in times of crisis is expanding its services to Tyneside.
Car firm boss Sir Peter Vardy said he was delighted by the response from volunteers for his Safe Families for Children (SFFC) initiative, which launched on Teesside last year.
Around 25 families have already signed up to the scheme, which offers “host families” for young people in need. A further 25 are waiting to be trained and the majority have come via local churches.
The early intervention initiative has also been welcomed by local authorities who lack the resources to be able to help every family with problems.
The former schools founder has put together a team of experienced social workers and child safeguarding professionals.
Due to the initial success of the initiative, SFFC is now expanding to help families on Tyne and Wear.
Keith Danby, chief executive of SFFC, said: “We are a Christian-based organisation and approached the churches believing that we could mobilise an army of caring people with a natural instinct to help.
“They have not let us down, and in fact we were over-subscribed for our first cohort. People in Gateshead in particular have really caught onto our vision.
“They are very excited about the opportunity to contribute towards helping those who are going through challenging circumstances, and to do their bit toward preventing family breakdown.
“We are on schedule to begin serving local families after Easter.”
SFFC has been given official charity status and its policies and procedures have been approved by the Safeguarding Children’s Board in Middlesbrough.
The service SFFC provides has two strands: host families, who provide a safe and caring environment in their own home for children whose parents are in crisis and need some breathing space to stabilise their lives; and family friends or mentors, who work alongside, coach and support parents who need ongoing help. The families who need help are referred by GPs, schools or health and social care professionals, or they can seek help themselves. The respite care for their children may be needed because of homelessness, domestic violence, parental depression, medical or financial crisis.
The host families have to go through an application and interview process, a review of their home by an SFFC case worker and training before their application is approved. The project is based on a successful model in the US. In Chicago, the organisation has been credited in part with halving the number of children taken into care in less than 10 years.
Host families typically look after two children, usually aged under five, for between two and 20 days.
The North East model, which aims to be rolled out nationwide in the future, will be monitored and its impact evaluated by an independent study.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can join a training day at Chowdene Community Church, in Low Fell, Gateshead, this Saturday or March 23. To apply, call 0191 374 4777 or visit www.safefamiliesforchildren.com
