Mayor visits St Vincent's Family centre in shadow of Parliament

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Source: Westminster City Council

A family centre and Catholic charity supported by Westminster City Council is helping more than 150 families a year - with services including drop-in days, exercise, health advice and a free creche.

The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Robert Rigby, was given a tour of the St Vincent's Family Project which is based in the Methodist Hall near Parliament Square. In the heart of Westminster - and the shadow of the House of Commons - parents of children aged up to five get a chance to relax and make new friends.

Parents - many on low incomes - can also get welfare advice and support with buying school uniforms.

The Lord Mayor of Westminster Cllr Robert Rigby, who is a Catholic, spent time talking to parents and joined in with craft sessions and play.

"The St Vincent's Family Project which supports families here in Westminster is obviously hugely valued by the parents who go there - talking to regulars, it is clear they enjoy the contact and organised care it provides. For parents and carers, It means a break, a chance to chat as adults and gain genuine support.", the Lord Mayor said.

"It is great that parents can call into a venue like this in the heart of the capital where play areas can be at a premium, and I'm proud the City Council is able to support it."

Andrew Varley, chief executive of St Vincent's Family project, said: "The cost of living crisis has impacted on everyone including organisations like ours, and we are grateful to Westminster City Council for support that has enabled us to keep going.

"St Vincent's Family project is there to offer a breathing space to parents with young families - a place to make new friends and have something to eat while their children play in a safe and supervised area. With family budgets hard-pressed, this kind of service has never been more important in the heart of Westminster.

"It was a pleasure to welcome the Lord Mayor of Westminster to the Family Project today, show him what we do and introduce him to the people we look after - everyone really appreciated his interest."

St Vincent's Family Project was first established in 1975 when the Spanish government set up a neighbourhood programme, staffed by the Spanish Daughters of Charity, to help Spanish families living in London. The project later expanded to the wider community with the involvement of the UK Daughters of Charity of St Vincent De Paul.

Read more about St Vincent's Family Project here: www.svfp.org.uk/