TRIBUTES have been paid to a “kind” and “devoted” grandmother who launched a vital charity which has helped countless families since it was began 25 years ago.
Elizabeth Ewart-James - also known as Liz - died aged 77 on Tuesday, June 18 after recently being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The grandmother-of-five set up Home-Start Stroud in 1999 which supports vulnerable families to help give children the best possible start in life.
Colleagues and friends have described Liz as “funny”, “caring” and who was “passionate” about making a difference to children’s lives.
Every year, the charity supports more than 600 families in Stroud and Gloucester through home visits, antenatal and postnatal groups plus its mental health support programme.
Former MP and county councillor David Drew described Liz as a “hero” and said she would “forever” be remembered by many local families.
Liz - who grew up in Milngavie near Glasgow - had been a children’s social worker for many years before forming the Stroud charity.
She was inspired after she spotted a B and B guest wearing a Home-Start T-shirt and decided to launch a branch in the area.
"Unsung hero"
Cllr Drew said: “Elizabeth was one of those unsung heroes for which the emphasis should be on the word hero.
“I’ve met Elizabeth many times over the years since the inception of Home-Start which was and always will be her baby.
“She was passionate about providing support to families in the early months after childbirth though this morphed into help being freely given by volunteers over a much longer period.
“Given how overstretched health visitors have become Home-Start has filled a very important gap in provision and that was down to Elizabeth and what she has done over so many years.
“She will always be remembered as so many families owe so much to her."
Tributes have been paid to Liz Ewart-James who helped set up Home-Start Stroud (Image: Home-Start Stroud)
In 1999, Liz formed a steering committee with her friend Heather, applied for lottery funding and Home-Start Stroud was launched.
Initially, the charity offered support to families living within Stroud and Dursley but expanded to cover the rest of the district.
Since April 2016, the charity has also expanded into Quedgeley and Kingsway.
"Passionate about making a difference"
Home-Start chair Harriet Walker, who also worked with Liz for more than 20 years, described her as “kind” and “passionate”.
“Liz was the driving force behind so much of what we have achieved as a charity starting with home visiting volunteers to running post-natal, and antenatal groups as well as groups for dads and drop in groups,” she said.
“Liz was always keen to forge forward with new ideas knowing that we would be able to find solutions afterwards to fund it.
“Her vision was that as many vulnerable and local families as possible could be helped and supported by us to give the children the best possible start in life.”
Harriet added: “She drove the expansion to cover the whole of Gloucestershire and told as many people as she could about the work we do.
“Nothing was ever unachievable, we just had to work hard to make it successful.
“Liz was always interested in the volunteers as well as the families they supported.
“She was funny, kind, caring and passionate about making a difference to children's lives and devoted a huge amount of time and energy to the charity she founded 25 years ago.”
Liz with her family at a colour run fundraiser (Image: Home-Start Stroud)
"She leaves a wonderful legacy" says MP
Stroud MP, Dr Simon Opher, said: “Countless children, young people and their parents owe Liz Ewart-James and the team at Home Start huge debt of gratitude for helping them along the way in those important early years of childhood.
"And particularly to Liz, who founded and until recently led Home Start locally.
"She leaves a wonderful legacy and will be missed by all who knew her.”
In January, Liz received a prestigious national accolade from the charity’s parent body Home-Start UK where she was named trustee of the year for 2024.
This year, Liz was due to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband Andrew.
Liz's funeral took place at St. Mary's Parish Church, North Woodchester, on Wednesday, July 24.
She leaves behind her husband Andrew as well as their three children and five grandchildren.
You can read more about the charity here - tinyurl.com/36pd6z8n
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