Charity caring for young mothers gets Chamber support

Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber of Commerce have announced that Number Eight Tamworth will receive their fundraising support for the next two years as they are named as the Chamber's Chosen Charity.

The charity were chosen at the Chamber's 'Chosen Charity Selection Lunch' earlier this week at The Cathedral Hotel in Lichfield.

Members gathered to hear from three shortlisted organisations who applied for the role and find out why they should be elected.

Number Eight Tamworth, a registered charity founded six years ago to provide supportive accommodation for young mums and their babies and pregnant young mums to be, were successful in their bid.

Number Eight houses young mums in an environment where they can not only feel safe and secure, but also where they can be assisted through the very difficult period immediately before and after the birth of their first child.

Their support includes:

• Training in the essentials of caring for the newborn
• Training in looking after themselves
• Training in the setting up of a first home
• Training in basic housekeeping including some cooking/baking
• Provision of welfare and financial advice where necessary
• Practical and emotional support
• Help to enable them to pick up any lost education and move on to college or employment
• Help to source ongoing accommodation and to furnish it
• Healthy relationships

Jason Challoner, president of Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber and managing director at Valyou Recruitment, said: "I had the pleasure of introducing and taking part in the Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber Charity selection partnership, held at the Cathedral Hotel in Lichfield.

"Firstly, I would like to personally thank the charities presenting, including Number Eight Tamworth, The Community Foundation for Staffordshire & Help Us Help Others and our members for their fantastic support and casting their vote. It was a very difficult decision for all involved as each charity presented will real passion and dedication, highlighting real positive outcomes for local people they were supporting on a daily basis.

"The eventual winner being Number Eight Tamworth, that provides supportive accommodation for young mums and their babies. As president, I 'm looking forward to working alongside Dawn Candy to promote Number Eight Tamworth to our Lichfield & Tamworth business community and provide a platform for growth and awareness through our Executive Board."

Dawn Candy, director of operations at Number Eight, said: "It was a fantastic opportunity to publicise Number Eight and the support we are able to provide to our young parents to a new audience, winning was the icing on the cake! I'm sure the connections we make over the two years will help to ensure the continued success of our small charity."

The event also raised a total of £125 through the raffle with a four ball at The Belfry or Forest of Arden, provided by Crown Highways, and won by John Ramsden of Morson FM.

Find out more about Number Eight

Pictured (Left to Right): Jamie and Darren Lake of Help Us Help Others, Dawn Candy and Victoria Vernon of winning charity Number Eight Tamworth, Jason Challoner, President of Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber and Faye Williams of The Community Foundation for Staffordshire.