GUEST SPEAKER Jane Askew gave delegates at this year s Royston and South Cambs Home-Start annual meeting an insight into her work with Russian children. Home-Start is a charity supporting young families in the Royston area. And on Monday, Mrs Askew, who

GUEST SPEAKER Jane Askew gave delegates at this year's Royston and South Cambs Home-Start annual meeting an insight into her work with Russian children.

Home-Start is a charity supporting young families in the Royston area.

And on Monday, Mrs Askew, who works for charity Love Russia, gave her talk.

She said: "Love Russia has about 55 different projects on the go in Russia at the moment.

"These can range from visiting orphanages to assisting in special needs schools.

"We work with children of all ages.

"We choose schemes which will make a difference in the children's everyday lives.

"For example, we have recently been providing disposable nappies for an orphanage.

"These are readily available over here, but so hard to come by in Russia."

Home-Start currently helps 88 families in Royston and the surrounding area, through one-to-one support for parents, and family groups which provide activities for children and adults.

At the meeting the group released its annual report, detailing their activities over the past year.

In the report, chairman Lindsay Davidson said: "Our wonderful staff have been the driving force behind the scheme's performance over the past year.

"I look forward to another year of sustained growth and high achievement."

At the meeting, Home-Start revealed a range of entries in its competition to design a Christmas card.

One of the entries, which have all been designed by children involved in the scheme, will be selected as this year's official Royston Home-Start Christmas card.