Safe Families for Children UK, the charity founded by North East entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Peter Vardy, has exceeded a significant milestone amongst its network of volunteers.
The charity’s volunteers have now provided more than 1,000 nights of respite care for children across the UK.
Safe Families for Children has partnered with 20 local authorities and 418 churches throughout the country, and has a network of over 2,500 volunteers, which the charity is aiming to increase to 100,000.
Sir Peter Vardy said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to have reached this milestone through the work of our volunteers across the UK. To think that our volunteers have provided over 1,000 bed nights to children from families going through tough times is so inspiring and I can’t help thinking of the possibilities in the future and what that will mean for struggling families.
“I would like to thank each and every one of our partners and volunteers for their dedication, support and everything that they have done for our charity and what we will still achieve together.”
The charity recruits and trains three types of volunteer to help deliver support; 1) Host Families who look after a child overnight for a couple of days to a couple of weeks, 2) Family Friends who befriend, mentor and support parents through difficult times and 3) Resource who Friends supply a wide range of goods and services the family needs.
Keith Danby, Chief Executive of Safe Families for Children UK, added: “The difference a volunteer can make in the life of a family and in the life of a child is always motivating. We have been helping families in the UK since 2013 and yet each family’s story is unique and moving.
“In the last three years we have helped 586 families and 1,420 children, recruited 2,542 volunteers and provided over 1,000 bed nights for youngsters and we can’t wait to see what the next three years will bring.”