February update

If you’re looking for something to do with your spare time, make note of some of the exciting opportunities we currently have available.

Did you know?

• 25% of children in the UK eat their only hot meal at school*

• 31% of children in Inner London live in poverty*

• 33% of British families are surviving on just £10 each day**

*Child poverty action group **National Statistics online


This month Barnardo’s launched an emergency appeal, like most other charities Barnardo’s has been affected by the recession, which has impacted all areas of fundraising.

It has also particularly affected the gifts in wills field, as house and share prices drop so have the value of these gifts. Although Barnardo’s supporters have remained generous and most are still rallying around supporting the charity with what they can the total deficit will be approx *£1.2 million.

Julie’s Story

Barnardo’s helps families who are in the trap of the poverty cycle. Cornerstone a project in West Yorkshire is an example of a project that helps families like Julie’s.

Julie is the mother of three children, aged ten, three and two. She went on maternity leave just as the economy took a downturn. Shortly afterwards her company made a swathe of redundancies and she was unable to return to work.
Then her partner walked out. One moment Julie was able to provide for her children, the next, she was struggling to cover expenses like utility bills, clothes and food. She was on the brink - the expense of, say, a broken fridge could have tipped her over the edge and forced her to take out and extortionate loan from a disreputable moneylender.

But after hearing about Cornerstone through friends, Julie and her family have been going there for all kinds of support. In structured sessions at the Parent and Toddler Group, her two youngest children play with toys and enjoy storybooks -
Julie received tips from the project and the other families about surviving on a tight budget, and sometimes she is given second hand clothes the children. Thanks to Pauline’s encouragement, she has even enrolled in college and passed her first year exams with flying colours.

Julie’s courage is remarkable, but her experiences are far from unique. With unemployment rising and increased financial pressures, more families like Julie’s will be coming to Barnardo’s and the shortfall in income will make it harder to help them. If you would like to help further visit www.barnardos.org.uk for more information.