Creating the best start in life
We are helping disadvantaged children and young people overcome the barriers they face and reach their potential.
Many children and young people face poverty, neglect, disability, or care-giving responsibilities which threaten to limit their opportunities and pose problems to their physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
We support local and national charities that help disadvantaged children and young people to have the best possible start in life. Whether through mental health support, parenting programmes, or making sure children from deprived backgrounds have a healthy breakfast before school – we aim to make sure vulnerable children and young people live healthy and happy lives.
Case Studies
Discover how we are making a difference in your area
These are the grants we have awarded so far during our current financial year, which started on 1 April 2023.
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Home Start UK Partnership
On average, one in three children start primary school without reaching a good level of development. This figure rises to one in two with regard to poorer children*. The issues causing the most concern for teachers are communication and language, physical, personal, social and emotional development, literacy and numeracy.
In 2019 the MCF Board approved a partnership with Home-Start UK, an established organisation comprising a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support workers across England and Wales. It helps disadvantaged families with young children through their early years up to the age of 5 years old.
This £1 million partnership involves a project which will run over 5 years and works with local Home-Start branches to deliver a project, aiming to get children from disadvantaged backgrounds school-ready.
*Department for Education, Early years foundation stage profile results
