Families First 14 August

Wed, Aug 14th 2024 at 12:40 pm - 2:00 pm

Morag Coleman explained the important support given locally to families.

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.The guest speaker was Morag Coleman from ‘Families First', a local charity working alongside children, young people and their families through out north east Fife, helping them overcome the challenges they face in life. Morag described how ‘FF’ had begun as a small group in the St Andrews Baptist Church in 2001, has grown over the years, became an autonomous independent charity in 2009, and now has a staff of 11 -6 full-time and 5 part-time plus volunteers. The service offers one-to-one befriending, specialised youth groups, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs, activities during school holidays, support for parents and carers in times of need. It employs an external fund-raiser and has an annual budget of £350,000; benefitting from support at the local level and also from large trusts and charity funds. This is a unique organisation in NE Fife, utilising service providers, volunteers, trustees, staff, partners in local businesses, community groups and charities. Volunteer Co-ordinator Kirstin explained how her people help as administrators, directors, drivers, ‘Friends’ for fund-raising and awareness, marketing, general service delivery. Two projects in particular were mentioned: the Wave Project where mentors teach the children surfing and open up a new world of possibilities to them; the Saints Sports Day, set up and supported by the Rotary Club of St Andrews, at the University Sports Centre where students provide a fun day teaching different sports to children who would otherwise have no access to such activities. 'FF' is an important local charity doing excellent work in the community and has been given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Angela Fowlis gave the vote of thanks.

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