Ribble Valley families benefit from charity's help

Children at the village school had great fun dressing up and selling cakes as they do each year for a local good cause.

And headteacher Lisa Stinchon decided the Foundation should benefit this year after seeing the work they had done with some of the families at her school.

Hannah Blackburn – Schools’ Ambassador for the charity – visited the school recently to give a moving talk to pupils about the work the Foundation does.

And pupil Maya (6) put her hand up to say how much she appreciated the help the foundation was giving her mum Christina Aro.

Sabden headteacher Lisa Stinchon said: “We chose the Foundation for Ribble Valley Families because I had already accessed some of their support for some of my families.

“I was really impressed with their enthusiasm and dedication.

“We had great fun with our fund rasiing events such as dressing up and selling cakes. It was wonderful to raise money and actually know it will benefit families near home.

“Hannah Blackburn came and delivered a super assembly to our children and made the charity – and the work they do – real.”

Christina – who also has a son Kimi (9) at the school – was delighted by the gesture having received support from the foundation last year.

She said: “The Foundation was a lifesaver for me. I’d been really struggling with depression and domestic abuse.

“It was becoming difficult for me just to get my children to school and I didn’t know where else to turn for counselling. The waiting lists on the NHS were so long.

“It was Barnardo’s who eventually put me in touch with the Foundation and I’m so pleased they did.

“I had some counselling with Stephen and took the mindfulness course and It has really helped to rebuild my confidence.

“There’s so much I’ve taken on board.

“Our family life is so much happier now. I feel like the Foundation for Ribble Valley Families really bridges a gap that was there before.”

It is now a year since co founders Fiona Owen and Stephen Blackburn had the idea to form he charity.

Their services include therapeutic life coaching and mindfulness, back to work training courses, family holidays and also leisure activities through partner charities The Principle Trust and Roefield Leisure respectively.”

Both Stephen and Fiona have been delighted with the way things have gone since their official launch in July.

Bowland High School, St James’s CE Primary School and Ribblesdale Nursery School have also raised funds for the charity in recent months.

Stephen and Fiona said: “We are really grateful to Lisa and the children at Sabden for the money they raised – as well as the donations from other schools.

“We will make sure it is put to good use in our work helping families around the area.”

They are planning an anniversary ball on Friday, July 1st, at Bashall Barn to celebrate their achievements in the first year

For further information about the Foundation contact the Children’s Centre on 01200 423672 or email fiona@
ribblesdale-nur.lancs.sch.uk