CIVIC HEAD VISITS ESCAPE FAMILY SUPPORT TO SEE IMPACT OF TOWN COUNCIL GRANT
Civic Head Councillor Caroline Ball recently visited ESCAPE Family Support to witness firsthand how the organisation has used the £3,000 grant awarded by Ashington Town Council earlier this financial year.
During the visit, Councillor Ball was photographed with representatives from ESCAPE, Deb Humble, Advanced Family Support Practitioner and Jenny Earle, Volunteer and Training Coordinator, highlighting the ongoing partnership between the Town Council and this vital community service.
The grant was provided to support ESCAPE's core costs, enabling the organisation to maintain and expand essential services to Ashington residents. Last year, ESCAPE worked with 55 families from Ashington, with 87.5% of closed cases reporting positive outcomes with improvements in their health, wellbeing, and family lives.
"It is inspiring to see how ESCAPE has put the Town Council's grant to effective use," said Cllr Ball. "Their work directly improves the lives of Ashington residents, helping families build resilience, develop coping strategies, and reduce isolation. The Council's investment, and their hard work and dedication is making a difference in our community."
ESCAPE Family Support, which was named Small Charity of the Year at the North East Charity Awards in October 2022 and received a Northumberland High Sheriff Special Award in March 2024, operates across Northumberland but has a significant presence in Ashington. In the 2023/24 financial year, 15% of their service users were Ashington residents.
The organisation provides a range of services including a 24/7 helpline, family support, and accredited training programs. As an AIM registered training centre, ESCAPE delivers courses including Level 1 Befriending, Level 2 Peer Mentoring and Support Skills, and Level 3 Supporting Families, enabling those with caring responsibilities to fulfil their educational and employment potential.
Janet Murphy, CEO of ESCAPE Family Support, said, "The grant from Ashington Town Council has made a real difference to our work in the community. With increasing demand for our services and the challenges of securing charitable funding, local support like this has been vital to ensuring we can continue to help families in need."
The organisation works in partnership with numerous statutory and voluntary sector agencies, including Northumberland Adult Services & Children's Services, schools, GPs, hospitals, police, and other community organisations.
Residents seeking support can access ESCAPE's services through self-referral, the 24/7 helpline, or referrals from healthcare providers, schools, and social services.
For all the information you need about ESCAPE Family Support, including making a referral, please click on the link below:
https://escapefamilysupport.org.uk/
To donate please click on the link below:
