We are absolutely delighted to announce our new patron, Baroness Floella Benjamin.
You may know Floella from her years on our televisions in Play School or through her more recent work as a Member of the House of Lords. Floella is a huge champion of childhood, she recently revealed on BBC’s Desert Island Discs that her own childhood experiences had encouraged her lifelong commitment to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
We are so excited to welcome Floella to Home-Start Westminster and look forward to her patronage raising awareness of the vital work our wonderful team of volunteers do to support parents and their young children in the crucial early years, inspiring others to do the same.
Hear from Floella about why she has joined Home-Start Westminster as patron:
Baroness Floella Benjamin commented: “I am delighted that Home-Start Westminster have asked me to be their patron because I share the charity’s belief that every child’s potential is limitless; that with the care and love of their parents from the start, in a safe, fun, and loving home, every child can achieve that potential, feeling confident and secure.
We all know that raising a family has its challenges, and sometimes parents need a helping hand to be the best parents they can be. This is where Home-Start Westminster’s amazing trained volunteers can make a difference, can do their magic. They visit families in their own homes every week, becoming a friend of the family, offering help and reassurance, supporting parents to find their own ways of working through difficulties and giving them the confidence to do so. This work is needed more than ever in the current uncertain times with families facing additional pressures and severe isolation. Home-Start can be there to offer crucial emotional support to families which for many has been a lifeline.
Home-Start Westminster is there for families, children and babies when they need them most… because childhood cannot wait. As I always say ‘Childhood lasts a lifetime’ so together let’s give each child a happy wonderful start and remember…. Keep smiling!”
Christina Smyth, Chair of Home-Start Westminster, commented: “We are thrilled that Baroness Floella has agreed to become our patron. We have a shared belief that ‘childhood can’t wait’ and understand how crucial a child’s early years are. We work with families to ensure every child has the best possible start in life. Our specially trained Home-Start volunteers visit families every week in their homes to provide extra support to parents who are often coping with challenging circumstances. We hope that with Floella’s support we can raise awareness of the work we do here at Home-Start Westminster, attracting donations and encouraging more wonderful people to volunteer with us and befriend local families.”