Janet Hannay, founder of Home-Start Wigtownshire, has been recognised for her tireless work to set up the charity with a coveted Beacon Prize for Scotland. Home-Start Wigtownshire offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children in local communities Janet Hannay and her team recruit and train volunteers who have parenting experience themselves to visit families at home who have at least one child under 5, to offer informal, friendly and confidential support.
Janet is one of just 13 recipients of a Beacon Prize this year, all of whom were chosen for their exceptional philanthropic contribution through the giving of their time, money and skills in order to benefit specific charitable causes.
She has joined the ranks of previous Beacon winners such as Sir Bob Geldof, Jamie Oliver and environmentalist, Zac Goldsmith who have all been recognised for their charitable work through what has become known as the 'Nobel Prize of the charity world', first coined by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
As a direct result of Janet's contribution in her position as Chairperson and most recently Trustee, Home-Start Wigtownshire has gone from strength to strength since its inauguration in 2000. The number of families supported has risen to 50 annually. The impact of increasing numbers is that many more local families are able to cope better with the demand of family and home life.
Parents gain in confidence and self esteem and this has a knock on effect to the children. Many families also now benefit from support they need to help them cope with problems such as post-natal depression, parenting a disabled child or recovering from substance abuse problems, which can often otherwise lead to a family breakdown and children having to go into care.
Beacon's Chairman Martyn Lewis said: "We are delighted to honour Janet with this award. Hers is a tremendous and longstanding contribution to community life. She has shown great drive and determination and here work provides real benefits for local families."
The Prize Ceremony took place on 22nd November at The Banqueting House, Whitehall, when 13 winners were inaugurated as Beacon Fellows, a community of Beacon Prize winners who together, champion charitable causes across the globe and nurture a wider culture of giving in the UK.
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For further information on the Beacon Prize, winners' biographies and photos of the 2007 award recipients or on The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust contact Fintan Nicholls on 0207 203 8295 or email fintan.nicholls@beaconfellowship.org.uk
