Five ‘charity champions’ are appointed by the Sussex charity, Family Support Work (FSW).
Operating since 1890, the Sussex charity has worked tirelessly to take care of children from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as families that are going through trying periods in their lives. They offer their support for various issues. These include poverty, extremely low income, learning difficulties, physical health, mental health, absence in school as well as exclusion. The variety of issues that the charity supports also includes extreme issues such as breakups of family, loss of family as well as domestic abuse.
The champions include Caroline and Jonathan Lucas (Sussex County President of St John’s and High Sheriff of West Sussex 2014); Maureen Chowen DL (High Sheriff of East Sussex 2017); Caroline Nicholls DL (High Sheriff of West Sussex 2018), and Denise Patterson DL (High Sheriff of West Sussex 2015). A majority of these are quite well known by the locals.
These roles are a part of FSW’s strategic objectives for 2019/20 in order to boost awareness of the work they do throughout Sussex and to get new supporters and beneficiaries on board. The Champions are chosen to help promote the work of FSW throughout the country. Its secondary objectives include attracting new audiences to their cause.
Family Support Work’s CEO, Martin Auton-Lloyd, put it as, “I am thrilled with the appointment of our charity champions. Being able to work with such notable figures in Sussex is a privilege and I am sure each one will be able to bring their different skill sets to the role. Each one of them will have an essential part in ensuring that people across Sussex are aware of Family Support Work and how best to access the support that FSW can provide to families in need.”
Bishop of Chichester and President of Family Support Work, The Rt Rev Dr Martin Warner says, “ I am delighted to welcome Caroline Nicholls, Denise Patterson, Maureen Chowen, together with Jonathan and Caroline Lucas as Champions for FSW. Each of these new Champions already has a distinguished track record of public service and we are hugely fortunate that they will be supporting FSW. Their willingness to serve in this capacity is an indication of the serious plight that many families are in, and the important work that FSW is doing, at the local level, to improve the quality of life for children and their parents who are in most need.”