Charity Left Guessing Over Funding - LibDem Mark to the rescue!

When Hertfordshire County Council planned its review of Children's Centres and other organisations that work with these families. It said any funding arrangements would cease at the end of March 2014. The charity that does most in this area across the County is Home Start, whose volunteers support individual families with young children in managing their day to day affairs until they are confident that they can stand on their own two feet. Home Start depend significantly on the grant they receive from HCC. By the start of this week all the 10 Branches across Hertfordshire were getting seriously concerned about their funding after April 2014 and the manager of Home Start Watford was emailing councillors for help.

Watford LibDem County Councillor Mark Watkin contacted the Head of Early Years at Hertfordshire County Council who confirmed that their review had taken longer than expected and that Home Start's funding for 2014 /15 was assured. It seems no-one had remembered to tell Home Start!

Emma Power, Manager of Home Start Watford emailed Mark "This is brilliant. Thank you so much for the support you have shown us. Without your help I am sure we would still be waiting for a response."