Marlborough House is part of the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust and provides an adolescent service for young people aged 12-18 with severe emotional difficulties, from Swindon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Whilst the Adolescent Unit had recently been re-built, there had been no provision for outdoor games for patients to help them relax during breaks from therapy. In May 2005 The Dettol Foundation’s donation of £300 helped to provide a welcome break for patients to unwind and enjoy the outdoors. 

The Welcome Centre is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Park’s area of East Swindon through the provision of services for local parents and children.

For some time, childcare workers at the Centre required uniforms, however funding had restricted their purchase. The Dettol Foundation’s donation of polo shirts showing the project logo allows both children and parents to distinguish workers from parents and improve the safety of the Centre.

Swindon Care & Repair is the Home Improvement Agency covering the Swindon area. The agency works with vulnerable families with small children to ensure their homes are safe by fitting stair gates, cupboard locks and safety film for windows.

Fitting the safety items is a major problem for many vulnerable or disadvantaged families who may be single parents and not have access to the skills or tools to fit these items safely. The funding from The Dettol Foundation paid for a handyman to fit the equipment in the homes of these families.

Based in Swindon, the Family Mediation Service is a child focused charity working to protect the welfare of children caught in the breakdown of their parents’ relationship.

Training staff to be able to carry out their important role can be costly. The funding from The Dettol Foundation paid for one member of staff, Paul Bradley, to attend a Community Mediation training course. On completion of the training, Paul received an Open College Network qualification, which enabled him to become part of the Re-Connect team that works with young people and their families to prevent homelessness and help repair family relationships.

The Family Welfare Association offers a home-based service to families in deprived areas of Swindon. The Association works directly with parents and children around issues such as improving parenting skills, raising self esteem, facilitating positive relationships within the family, school and community.

Their support for children in particular is based around play, as often families don’t have the funds to purchase games and play equipment for their children. The funding from The Dettol Foundation was used to buy board games, puzzles, books and craft materials that families can use in their homes.