For use by Schemes registered for the Big Tea Party 2006. Please cut and paste from the three press releases below and use as you need to. This is an unlinked page and cannot be seen by anyone who does not have the url. It is not for use by anyone outside Home-Start.

TEMPLATE NEWS RELEASE 1

• For Home-Start schemes TO USE TO URGE PEOPLE IN YOUR AREA/COMMUNITY TO HOLD A BIG TEA PARTY TO RAISE MONEY FOR YOU
• Please print your release onto Big Tea Party headed paper from your pack and send to local newspapers, radio, TV or websites.
  
• Timing: to be released to your regional media from June 2006 onwards.

NEWS RELEASE

Date issued: XXX
For immediate use

PUT THE KETTLE ON TO HELP LOCAL FAMILIES - SAYS CHARITY

Home-Start (name of scheme) is encouraging people throughout (name of county/area) to hold a Big Tea Party, between 4 and 17 September 2006, to help raise hundreds of pounds for local families and children who are struggling to cope.

Taking part is simple and Home-Start has produced fundraising packs full of materials and fun ideas on how to take part, which is available at www.home-start.org.uk/bigteaparty. This is your chance to join thousands of people across the UK this September, who will be getting together for tea to raise funds for families in need of support.

Home-Start (name of scheme) is part of the UK's leading family support charity. This is the second year of this successful national fundraising campaign. It is hoped that Big Tea Parties, being held across the UK, will raise £150,000 for families and children supported by Home-Start.

Home-Start (name of scheme) was set up in (XX) and last year helped (XX) families and (XX) children. It has (XX) home-visiting volunteers who spend a few hours a week helping parents with children under five years old. The volunteers visit parents at home and use their own parenting experience to support other mothers and fathers and give them practical and emotional help. Home-Start believes that parents have the key role in creating a secure and happy environment for their children.

"This year we want to spread the word about the Big Tea Party campaign. It's easy to get involved and anyone can host a tea party of their own: for a few friends at home, schoolmates, colleagues, their scout group...the list is endless! It costs us around £1,000 to support one family for a year so every cup of tea and biscuit you sell, however small, is vital." Said (name of scheme organiser), Scheme Organiser.

To register to hold a Home-Start Big Tea Party and receive your fundraising pack, visit www.home-start.org.uk or call Home-Start on 0870 220 6701.

- ENDS -

Further information:

Contact name, Home-Start scheme, tel: XX, mob: XX, email: XX

National press office:

Please try local contact first. Annie O'Brian, Press and PR Manager, Home-Start. t: 0870 220 6712; e: aobrian@home-start.org.uk; m: 07917 392130

Notes to Editors:

Since Home-Start began 32 years ago volunteers, who are parents themselves, have helped more than 250,000 families and 500,000 children in the UK and with British Forces in Germany and Cyprus.

Our network of volunteers, based in local communities, supports parents who are finding it hard to cope - perhaps because of post-natal depression, disability, bereavement, illness, multiple births or social isolation.

TEMPLATE NEWS RELEASE 2

• For Home-Start schemes to use to ANNOUNCE YOUR OWN BIG TEA PARTY
• This is a template news release, so you will need to adapt the words and details for your own specific event. The main details (who, what, why, when) should be in the first paragraph.
• Please print your release onto Big Tea Party headed paper from your pack and send to local newspapers, radio, TV and websites.
• Timing: to be released to your regional media from early August 2006 onwards.

NEWS RELEASE
Date issued: XXX
For immediate use

HOME-START (SCHEME)

TAKES TIME FOR TEA TO SUPPORT LOCAL FAMILIES

Over (XX) people from Home-Start (name of scheme) will be taking part in a special 'Big Tea Party' on (date of event) at (location) to help raise funds to support local families and children who are struggling to cope. The event is part of a national fundraising campaign, running from 4-17 September 2006.

Home-Start (name of scheme) is part of the UK's leading family support charity. This is the second year of this successful fundraising campaign. It is hoped that Big Tea Parties, being held across the UK, will raise £150,000 for families and children supported by Home-Start.

Home-Start (name of scheme) was set up in (XX) and last year helped (XX) families and (XX) children. It has (XX) home-visiting volunteers who spend a few hours a week helping parents with children under five years old. The volunteers visit parents at home and use their own parenting experience to support other mothers and fathers and give them practical and emotional help.

"Our Big Tea Party is set to be a fun event with families and children across the area taking part. We hope to raise much needed funds for our vital support for local families. It costs us around £1,000 to support one family for a year so every cup of tea counts!" Said (name of scheme organiser), Scheme Organiser.

To register to hold your own Home-Start Big Tea Party and receive an organiser's pack, visit www.home-start.org.uk/bigteaparty or call Home-Start on 0870 220 6701.

- ENDS -

Further information:

Managers' name, Home-Start Scheme, tel: XX email: XX

National press office:

Please try local contacts first. Annie O'Brian, Press and PR Manager, Home-Start.
t: 0870 220 6712; e: aobrian@home-start.org.uk; m: 07917 392130

Notes to Editors:

Since Home-Start began 32 years ago volunteers, who are parents themselves, have helped more than 250,000 families and 500,000 children in the UK and with British Forces in Germany and Cyprus.

Our network of volunteers, based in local communities, supports parents who are finding it hard to cope - perhaps because of post-natal depression, disability, bereavement, illness, multiple births or social isolation.

TEMPLATE NEWS RELEASE 3

• For Home-Start schemes to USE TO ANNOUNCE MONEY RAISED FROM YOUR BIG TEA PARTY EVENTS IN YOUR AREA.
• Please print your release onto Big Tea Party headed paper from your pack and send to local newspapers, radio, TV and websites.
• Timing: to be released to your regional media from 17 September onwards.

NEWS RELEASE
Date issued: XXX
For immediate use

HOME-START (SCHEME)
RAISES OVER (£XX) FOR LOCAL FAMILIES

Home-Start (name of scheme) has raised over (£XX) from Big Tea Party events across the (name of county/area) for its work with local families and children who are struggling to cope. Home-Start (name of scheme) would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that took part.

The event was part of a national fundraising campaign, running from 4-17 September 2006. This is the second year of this successful campaign. The money raised will go directly towards supporting Home-Start families and children in (name of area).

Home-Start (name of scheme) was set up in (XX) and last year helped (XX) families and (XX) children. It has (XX) home-visiting volunteers who spend a few hours a week helping parents with children under five years old. The volunteers visit parents at home and use their own parenting experience to support other mothers and fathers and give them practical and emotional help.

"Our Big Tea Party events were a huge success this year with over (XX) people from the area taking part. It was great fun and a simple way for everyone to get involved and raise funds for local families. We are so grateful to everyone that took part and thank them for all their support." Said (name of scheme organiser), Scheme Organiser.

- ENDS -

Further information:

Managers' name, Home-Start Scheme, tel: XX email: XX

National press office:

Please try local contact first. Annie O'Brian, Press and PR Manager, Home-Start.
t: 0870 220 6712; e: aobrian@home-start.org.uk; m: 07917 392130

Notes to Editors:

Since Home-Start began 32 years ago volunteers, who are parents themselves, have helped more than 250,000 families and 500,000 children in the UK and with British Forces in Germany and Cyprus.

Our network of volunteers, based in local communities, supports parents who are finding it hard to cope - perhaps because of post-natal depression, disability, bereavement, illness, multiple births or social isolation.

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