Tesco shoppers urged to back our Dragonfly project helping Portsmouth families

Our flagship early-intervention project, Dragonfly, has been chosen for Tesco’s Stronger Starts community funding, giving Portsmouth shoppers the chance to support local families facing significant challenges by placing a blue token in Dragonfly’s voting box in participating stores until March.

Launched last April, Dragonfly supports families navigating relationship breakdown, co-parenting difficulties, mental health concerns, and other family challenges. The project brings families together with their own networks helping them to create plans that improve their situations, all whilst ensuring children’s voices are heard. Families can access support via self-referral or through community partners.

Demand is growing. More than 30 families have already reached out in the projects first year, exceeding expectations and highlighting the need for accessible early support in the city.

“I think this will be life changing for the whole family as we’ve all been struggling for a long time with how to support the children and now I feel like there’s hope.” – Family supported by Dragonfly

Debbie Burns, CEO of Daybreak, said:

"We are thrilled to be supported by Tesco Stronger Starts. The iconic blue-coin voting has long supported local, community projects that matter most to local families. Being involved is the perfect way for us to celebrate our one-year milestone of Dragonfly. This project needs funding to meet the demand and interest we’ve received, so every little really does help! Thank you for anyone considering voting for Dragonfly.”

The project is also part-funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, The Rayne Foundation and Southern Coop. To stay updated or express interest, follow Daybreak online.

How to support: When shopping at participating Tesco stores in Portsmouth, place your blue token in the Dragonfly box to help direct funding to local families.

Stores include: Crasswall; Old Portsmouth Express; Brunel Road Express; Gunwhalf Express; Kingston Road Express; Albert Road Express; Goldsmith Ave Express; Eastney Express; Elm Grove Express; Southsea Express; Fratton Park Extra.

If you, or a family you know, would like problem-solving support, referrals can be made online. Visit our Dragonfly project pages for more information.