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Posted: 6th August 2019

Keep it in the family!

Further funding for Family Services

We’re celebrating this week with news that we have received funding to continue one of our most popular and important services.

This week, we learned that our vital Family Services project would be funded for a further two years, thanks to the generosity of the City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder.

 

For many local parents & carers, their first point of contact is through the Family Services project, which provides a wide range of assistance, and, in some instances, it is the first place that parents & carers turn to after a diagnosis.  Staff are on hand to assist with help and advice, access to services in the local area, assistance with applications for DLA and PIP, support groups and occasional parent and carer training.

Thanks to the award from City Bridge Trust, we will be able to continue its vital Family Services work, building on the success of the project so far.  In the past three years, over 600 families have accessed the programme.  We were able to provide assistance in a variety of ares, from school issues, puberty and emotional support, benefit support and housing problems. 

CEO Chris Gillbanks was thrilled with the news of the new funding.  She said:

“We were delighted to learn that we have received funding from the City Bridge Trust for another two years.  Our Family Services offering is at the heart of everything we do at the Sycamore Trust.  In many cases, our Family Support Co-ordinator, Debbie Gadbury is the first person that parents & carers turn to after a diagnosis and we are so pleased that we can continue to offer this vital service.”

She continued; “We’re very grateful to the City Bridge Trust for their continued support.  Without their help, hundreds of families in east London would not be able to call on us to help guide them through what can be a stressful and overwhelming period.”

The money has been awarded by the City Bridge Trust. The CBT is responsible for maintaining London's bridges, but regularly gives excess money to charity. It gave £6.3million in this round of funding - its biggest ever.

Dhruv Patel, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust committee, said:

“This charity has years of experience and a great track record of supporting people with Autism and their families.

“Our funding will empower parents and carers to provide the best futures for their children and help hundreds of families to access vital services.

“By working together, we can strengthen our communities and make this city a fairer place in which to work and live.”   

Debbie Gadbury, Family Services Co-Ordinator & CEO Chris Gillbanks