Corby families charity gets £400,000 Lottery boost

Home-Start Corby has been given £393,015 from the Reaching Communities Big Lottery Fund for its new project – Home Wasn’t Built in a Day.

This project has been developed with both families and partner agencies in Corby such as Citizens Advice Bureau; eVolve Your Future, Furniture Turnaround and Corby Community Safety Team.

It will help local families access the support they need and focus on the more practical aspects of parenting such as brightening up their home environment, budgeting, options for healthier lifestyles and attending trips and outings. Home-Start Corby will also work closely with partners to plan options for returning to work or education and will provide excellent training to new volunteers across the borough.

Corby MP Tom Pursglove said: “I was delighted to hear that Home-Start in Corby has been awarded Big Lottery funding to help launch Home Wasn’t Built in a Day.

“This is great news for the local community. When I visited Home-Start back in October, it was great to hear directly from some of the families just how much of a huge help that Home-Start has been to them.

“The support given to these parents, some of whom have difficulties with mental health, has been extremely beneficial for them.

“The funding is extremely well-deserved, and will provide an invaluable lifeline for many people across Corby.”

Craig Spence from the Neighbourhood Management and Community Safety Team said: “Fantastic result! I look forward with great anticipation to our teams working together through this project to enable positive change for our communities.”

Corby mayor Julie Riley said: “I am so pleased for Home-Start Corby as I feel they are doing such valuable work in the community. 

“I thoroughly endorse their excellent work and look forward to being able to help and support them in the future. 

“Yet again Corby is leading the way in terms of compassion and empowerment to the families who need it most.”

Dan Pickard from Willow Place said: “Corby Town Shopping and Willow Place centre management and retailers are delighted to support and work with Home-Start Corby.

“Securing four years of Reaching Communities Lottery Funding underlines the amazing work the Home -Start Corby team carry out in the community; having seen first-hand the tangible difference they make to families makes us proud to be a small part of this journey.”

Peter Chapman from eVolve your future said: “We will offer families a bespoke service in a range of areas such as improving confidence and employability skills.

“Tailored training for each participant will provide the building blocks to new employment opportunities, and could potentially lead to a better life for all families to participate.”

Tracy Gallagher and Angela Prodger, the joint heads of the Pen Green Centre, said: “The centre staff, governors and parents are very excited about the new Home-Start project Home wasn’t built in a day.

“Parents have identified this as an area where there is much-needed support and Home-Start with their team of volunteers are ideally placed to take this work forward.

“The project will make such a difference to families with young children in Corby.”

Volunteers are also excited to get involved. Home-Start volunteer Zoe said: “I am excited to get involved with this new project and can’t wait to help families learn new skills while learning new skills myself.

“It’s always great to learn something new and to pass on to others.”

For more information about volunteering or getting involved with this project, call Home-Start Corby on 01536 409612.