The Family Trust is a Kent-based Christian children and young people’s charity. In 2018 they engaged with over 50,000 children through activities and initiatives. They are inclusive of all those with faith and those with none.
Location: Maidstone, Kent
The charity supports young people through a range of issues, moral, educational, spiritual, financial, relational, and social issues both on-site and through activities in local primary schools, including assemblies, after-school clubs and annual residential camps.
The charity regularly visits secondary schools and offers pupils access to a range of projects, including ‘reflection spaces’ where young people can explore challenges and issues in a safe, comfortable environment, ‘focus days’ that includes discussing topics such as marriage, family, and relationships and ‘safe space’ that supports young people who feel more vulnerable or less confident during non-teaching times of the school day.
Pupils can join the mentoring programme and 2018, a group of 6th Form students were trained to become mentors at their school to continue the positive impact of the charity.
The charity is supported by 250 passionate volunteers who come from diverse backgrounds with ages ranging from 16 to 85 years. The volunteers bring a wide range of skills and experience to their roles and last year were recognised when the Charity was awarded ‘Voluntary Charity of the Year’ at the Kent Charity Awards.
Andrew Haines, Chair of Trustees at The Family Trust, said:
We are delighted to have been nominated for the Groundwork Community Awards. This recognition is a real honour for our staff and volunteers who work so tirelessly to make a positive difference to the children we work with in schools across Kent.