1,800 vulnerable children from families facing socio-economic challenges in Sheerness, will receive help and support thanks to a grant from East Kent Freemasons to Seashells Children and Families Centre.

The £50,000 grant will support Seashells ‘Bridging the Gap’ project, which will focus on children aged under five years old and their families to improve health inequalities and break the cycle of poverty with early interventions. The project will deliver family activities, parenting courses, health and well-being programmes and home visits at no cost to ensure families get the support they need, while prioritizing family engagement and active participation.

The funding will make a significant difference in the lives of children and family in Sheppey by providing specialise assistance through the centres Early Childhood Development Co-ordinator. The practitioner will work directly with children and families, helping them to achieve developmental milestones, improve early learning outcomes and enhance health and wellbeing.

The grant will allow for Seashells to host daily play activities to support children’s learning and development, and six major family fun days each year, to promote key messages within the community, engaging over 150 families at each event. The broader goal is to increase vaccination rates, support school readiness and improve health & development outcomes for at least 65 per cent of the children we serve, allowing them to reach their full potential. Ultimately Seashells will act as a one-stop hub where families feel supported, children thrive and crate a lasting impact for generations to come.

It is estimated 12.7 per cent of children under 16 in Kent, live in absolute low income families. Sheerness specifically ranks first among Kent for the highest number of children living in absolute low income families, contributing to a cycle of disadvantage that affects children’s health development and education.

The area experiences higher rates of unemployment, child poverty and premature death, with life expectancy 12 years lower than other parts of Kent. Health data also reveals Sheerness children have a significantly higher rate of unhealthy weight with 23 per cent of children overweight at the beginning of school, rising to 34 per cent by year six – well above national averages.

Studies show that if you can address issues early on for children, they can still obtain good educational outcomes, good social skills and secure employment; the longer children are left unsupported, the greater the risk of them not attending school and reduced job prospects, leading them to be caught in the poverty trap.