Family group has two reasons to celebrate (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Family group has two reasons to celebrate

Ref. 28994-14aCHILDREN enjoyed an afternoon of fun organised by the charity Home-Start thanks to money donated by Evening Advertiser readers in our Christmas Appeal.

And families supported by the organisation had a second reason to celebrate because Swindon Council has guaranteed its grant of £33,000 for a further year.

The group faced losing funding due to cost-cutting measures aimed at keeping the increase in council tax to a minimum.

But Home-Start, as well as a range of other voluntary groups, was saved when the council learned last week it was due a tax rebate of almost £1m dating back nine years.

Jan Aylward, the charity's senior organiser, said: "It's a breather. We have been saved for a year and then we have to enter into discussions with the council about our long term future. We may need to find other avenues of funding."

Home-Start also receives £3,000 per year from Swindon Primary Care trust and raises £10,000 through fundraising.

Saturday's party, which featured a childrens entertainer and tea, was also partly funded by Zurich, with 77 adults and 84 children attending.

Sara Battershall, 28, of Oakham Close, Toothill, said her two sons Ryan, three, and six-month-old Joshua enjoyed the party. "I started receiving help after I had post natal depression," she said.

"We are over the moon that we have the funding. If it wasn't for Home-Start I wouldn't have had the help I needed."

Tina Petraccione, 24, of Belvedere Road, enjoyed the event with four-year-old son Connor and 18-month old daughter Summer.

She said: "I didn't know anyone when I moved to Swindon four years ago and then I went through a break up with my partner.

"Home-Start has really helped me and now I feel a lot more confident.

"Both my children really enjoy coming to the family sessions."