An £80,000 grant has made it possible for a Suffolk charity to connect with more disadvantaged children in need of direct support.

Home-Start East Ipswich & Coastal, based in Martlesham Heath, has been awarded £80,522 by Children in Need, to help kick-start its ‘You’re in Control’ project.

The three-year grant will be used to fund Home-Start’s first direct service for children and young people in Ipswich – a need identified by the charity as a result of increased referrals, specifically requesting such support.

You’re in Control targets children aged seven to 12 – and their families – and provides one-to-one volunteers, who help deliver emotional and practical support to boost their self-esteem.

Tara Somers manager of Home-Start, said: “Without the support of Children in Need, we would have really struggled to get this much needed project underway.

“This grant allows us to reach out to young people, by funding a youth coordinator, who will then be responsible for recruiting and training volunteers. These volunteers will provide direct support to children and young people in Ipswich.”

Each year, Home-Start East Ipswich & Coastal supports about 150 families in the Suffolk Coastal district and borough of Ipswich – for reasons including mental health problems, illness, disability, parenting skills support, multiple births, and isolation.