Home-Start Westminster's staff, volunteers and families enjoy tea at No 11 Downing Street

68 families, volunteers and staff from Home-Start Westminster were invited to a tea party at No 11 Downing Street, hosted by Maggie Darling.

As Home-Start Westminster are celebrating their 10th anniversary, they decided to use the tea party as an event to highlight these celebrations.

So on March 3rd 2010, almost 70 people set off for Downing Street and a very special tea party.

Christa Scholtz, manager of Home-Start Westminster said: "On the day, Maggie Darling said that there should be more Home-Starts in the UK. She made the event truly memorable and was just a fantastic hostess. She made everyone feel so at home."

Emily Henderson, coordinator at Home-Start Westminster recalls:

"It was a great honour, and a once in a lifetime opportunity for Home Start Westminster to be invited by Maggie Darling to a tea party at No11 Downing Street.  It all began when the Personal Assistant to Maggie Darling unexpectedly dropped off £131 that had been raised at a Community Lunch Event at the end of 2009.  Christa Scholtz, manager at Home Start Westminster, as always saw a great opportunity and immediately contacted Maggie Darling for further discussions!

So this is what led 68 Home Start Westminster families, volunteers, staff, funders and partnership workers to rub shoulders in the political home of London. This event epitomised what Home Start Westminster is about; empowering families and making the impossible seem possible. We saw the children’s eyes widen at the scones and jam, sausages, cakes, sandwiches and other goodies provided, as the parents tried desperately to ensure that their finest clothes didn’t get ruined!

For a relatively small organisation Home Start Westminster has a far reaching effect in the local community, with volunteers currently supporting 87 families in their own home each week. In addition to this Home Start Westminster runs groups, conducts parenting classes, runs summer schemes and much more. This event was a testament to the hard work that has gone into ensuring that the organisation is a centre of excellence in supporting parents with children under 5 within Westminster, and the fact that so many were present at the event underpins this. 

Maggie Darling proved to be a spectacular hostess, who effortlessly spoke to Home Start families, funders, trustees and staff alike, making this event very special for all  those who were there. This truly was a fantastic day and was more than just a tea party for so many of the attendees; it was a message that they matter. A huge thank you to Maggie Darling for making our 10th anniversary celebrations possible."

Photos

• Home-Start Westminster family at No 11
• Staff, volunteers, families and funders and Maggie Darling
• Thank you letters for Maggie Darling

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