News

10 January 2009

Stakeholder launch at Westminster - A huge show of support for National Family Week!

by Adam Nethersole

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families speaks at the launch event

On Wednesday 28th January, over 400 representatives from over 220 organisations gathered at Central Hall Westminster to welcome the UK’s first National Family Week, organised by Henley Media Group.

Keynote speakers Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families, and Professor Tanya Byron led the inauguration of the Week, which will be run between 25th and 31st May.

To an audience of some of the most influential individuals and organisations active on the family agenda, Ed Balls praised National Family Week’s organisers, noting the importance of a national occasion that celebrates the diversity of families in the United Kingdom and shines a spotlight on the issues faced by families.

Tanya Byron reinforced the importance of being positive and hopeful about the state of family life in the UK and urged organisations to spread messages of optimism, especially in their attitude towards young people. She reinforced the importance of National Family Week as a celebration that will remind us of the achievements and successes of the majority of families in the country.

Chef Antony Worrall Thompson, athlete Sally Gunnell and presenter Floella Benjamin were also there to show their support.

Showing their support for National Family Week, from left to right - Nick Henry (Managing Director - Henley Media Group), Nigel Barklem (Chairman - Henley Media Group), Floella Benjamin, Tanya Byron, Antony Worrall Thompson and Sally Gunnell.

The event was a great success in encouraging dialogue between family-oriented organisations, the charity and community sector, sport, government, unions, faith groups and the private sector. With an unprecedented gathering of chief executives, senior staff, media, celebrities, peers and MPs, National Family Week is shaping up to be one of the country’s most anticipated and important new national occasions, celebrating and promoting positive family life.

National Family Week would like to thank all the attendees, and its sponsors - Activision, Bupa, Butlins, LEGOLAND Windsor, Little Chef, Outwell, Pizza Hut, Sainsbury’s, SEAT and Vue Cinemas - for making the evening a success and helping to mark the inception of the UK’s first National Family Week.

For images or to view full video versions of the keynote speeches, visit www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk.

For more information regarding this article, contact the National Family Week team on 020 7871 0189 or jane@nationalfamilyweek.co.uk.