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A charity that supports disadvantaged families and young people is aiming to raise around £100,000 this year – enough to support 22 families that are currently on its waiting list.
Brighter Futures supports families facing a variety of challenges and difficulties, including poverty, social isolation, physical illness and domestic abuse.
The charity was founded in 2008 by former Headteacher Wendy Hurford MBE. It offers a range of programmes which address three crucial key areas of family life: parent and child relationships, wellbeing and positive mental health, personal development and second chance learning.
It aims to build the main carer’s confidence, sense of self-esteem and skills such as listening to and working with their children, to improving areas such as their own literacy and numeracy.
The services are provided free of charge, so that funding is not a barrier to accessing the support, which is given on a sustained basis as the team will often work with a carer for up to three years, where required.
Pictured: Fiona Brennan is the new CEO for Brighter Futures.
After appointing Fiona Brennan as CEO following the retirement of Ruth Brunton, who has worked with Brighter Futures since its inception in 2008, when she joined as a keyworker, the charity is looking to launch a major fundraising campaign in 2022.
Through ‘22 families in 2022’, Brighter Futures hopes to raise almost £100,000 during the year, as Fiona explained to Express…
“Since its foundation in 2008, Brighter Futures has supported more than 2,800 families benefiting over 11,200 islanders. The charity provides programmes facilitated by dedicated key workers that focus on creating the best relationship possible between children and their main carers.
It also focuses on providing family support and second chance learning skills, as well as a crèche facility.
Pictured: Brighter Futures is hoping to raise just under £100,000.
However, during 2021, the ongoing effects of the pandemic meant that Brighter Futures had to start a waiting list for its services as the number of families referred rose beyond its capacity.
Brighter Futures supports 170 families at any one time. It costs £4,400 per year to support one family, and to continue to provide this level of support, employ more key staff and open additional premises, the charity will need to raise approximately £1m in 2022. The charity does not charge for its services to ensure that the help it provides is as accessible as possible.
Placing clients on a waiting list is not a position that any charity wishes to be in, and we do not want to turn anyone away. We are therefore asking the community for its support to raise £96,800 during 2022, to help meet the needs of a further 22 families accessing our vital support services. This campaign will enable us to reach up to two more families per month who are facing challenges and require our support.”
For more information about the work of Brighter Futures Jersey, you can visit their website, email s.betts@brighterfutures.org.je or call the office on 01534 449 487.
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