Children in Need grant success

Action Homeless are delighted to announce that BBC Children in Need has awarded them a grant of £73,891 over 2 years. This grant will fund a project called Building Blocks and help make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people right here in Leicester.

This grant will enable Action Homeless to establish a new service, ‘Building Blocks’, for children between the ages of 0-4 years who are affected by homelessness in Leicester. The project will provide support to children, whose families are living in temporary accommodation, offering group and 121 family play sessions at venues across the city.

The play sessions will help children to develop their self-confidence, introduce routine during a chaotic time, and help with any additional behavioural issues and support needs.

Action Homeless has over 15 years experience of supporting young children and families who are experiencing homelessness. Building Blocks is a new project for Action Homeless that will lead to a major expansion of their work with children.

The grant funding will enable Action Homeless to employ new specialist staff including a Project Coordinator and Play Workers. It will also pay for toys, books, games and materials for a Building Blocks library, meaning that children from families with little or no income can still have access to these important resources. The project aims to have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of children affected by homelessness.

Eilidh Stringer, funding manager at Action Homeless said ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have received this grant from BBC Children in Need. The money will allow us to be there for some of the most vulnerable children within our community, supporting them through difficult times and helping to lay the foundations for a brighter future.’

This grant has been made possible thanks to the generosity of the public. £32.6 million was raised on Appeal night 2014 and BBC Children in Need have since announced that this total has risen to a record-breaking £49.1 million.

BBC Children in Need funding relies on the energy and commitment of thousands of fundraisers and supporters across the UK who donate their time and money to support the Appeal.  Whether it’s cake sales, spending the day in fancy dress or putting on a quiz, every penny of the money raised goes towards supporting projects across the UK.

All grants go to projects working with children and young people living in the UK who may be affected by homelessness, neglect, abuse or poverty, or those who have faced challenges in their lives such as serious illness, disabilities, and psychological disorders.

If you’re interested in attending then please get in touch with James on 0116 2211851 or jamesriviere@actionhomeless.org.uk