1,800 vulnerable children from families facing socio-economic challenges in Sheerness, will receive help and support thanks to a grant from East Kent Freemasons to Seashells Children and Families Centre.

The £50,000 grant will support Seashells ‘Bridging the Gap’ project, which will focus on children aged under five years old and their families to improve health inequalities and break the cycle of poverty with early interventions.

The project will deliver family activities, parenting courses, health and well-being programmes and home visits at no cost to ensure families get the support they need, while prioritising family engagement and active participation.

Peter and Colin talking about the grant and how it will help.

It is estimated 12.7 per cent of children under 16 in Kent, live in absolute low income families. Sheerness specifically ranks first among Kent for the highest number of children living in absolute low income families, contributing to a cycle of disadvantage that affects children’s health development and education.

The area experiences higher rates of unemployment, child poverty and premature death, with life expectancy 12 years lower than other parts of Kent. Health data also reveals Sheerness children have a significantly higher rate of unhealthy weight with 23 per cent of children overweight at the beginning of school, rising to 34 per cent by year six – well above national averages.

Studies show that if you can address issues early on for children, they can still obtain good educational outcomes, good social skills and secure employment; the longer children are left unsupported, the greater the risk of them not attending school and reduced job prospects, leading them to be caught in the poverty trap.

Ian Townsend-Blazier, Head of Development at Children and Families, said:
“We’re very grateful to the East Kent Freemasons for agreeing to fund our project over the next two years. This grant will enable us to deliver our ‘Bridging the Gap’ project, and improve health inequalities for children by breaking the poverty trap. ‘Make and Munch’, ‘Seashells Strolls’ and ‘Solihull Wellbeing Programme’ are just a few of the many services we are excited to deliver as part of this project. These groups and activities will empower children and families to thrive from a young age and have the best opportunities in life”.

Peter Rhodes, APGM from East Kent Freemasons, said:

“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help Seashells with their vital project aimed at some of the most vulnerable children and families in our community. If Seashells can give children the help they need at an early age and get them to a position where they are ready for school and able to take full advantage of their education, the effects of the programme could last their whole lives.”

About Children and Families

Children & Families is a children’s charity located in Sheerness, Kent that was established in 2002 with a main focus on addressing child poverty.  Their work covers the whole county of Kent and Medway, providing several early years’ services and food related services to support our charitable goals, including: Seashells Children and Families Centre, FareShare Kent, Family Food Bank, Nurseries and Pantries. Services are dedicated to ensure that children can grow up healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, contribute positively to society, and secure economic well-being.

Last year Children & Families saw a footfall of over 52,000 people; volunteers and staff directly supported almost 40,000 family members across all services. The charity has been at the heart of its community for over 20 years, having a well-established profile, strong partnerships and deep commitment to ensuring equitable treatment of the most disadvantaged communities. www.children-families.org 

The Masonic Charitable Foundation

We are the Freemasons’ charity

Funded entirely through the generosity of Freemasons and their families, the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country.
We build better lives by enabling opportunity, advancing healthcare and education and promoting independence.

Our vision

Our Vision for Society
Everyone has the opportunity to lead positive, active and fulfilling lives, especially those that are in need, disadvantaged or marginalised

Our Vision for the Masonic Community

Masonic families are healthy, stable and secure thereby providing them with the opportunities to participate actively in their community and succeed in life.

Our mission

To be a force for good by providing support, care and services to Freemasons and their families in need, and supporting other charities to help the most disadvantaged in society.

Our values

Our strategy
These are the three strategic goals that will help us to achieve our mission between 2018 and 2022:

We will enhance our support and services
We will improve our ways of working
We will raise our profile
We are currently working with our staff, volunteers and trustees to create our next strategy that will take us up to 2030.