Home-Start supports many families who are facing difficult life circumstances; anything from coping with drug or alcohol dependency, fleeing domestic violence or dealing with social care involvement in the family. Many families have to cope with several issues at the same time. Having a Home-Start volunteer can stop them from reaching crisis point
"Lisa turned to Home-Start because she wanted to give her youngest daughter the best start in life.
Lisa is mum to three children; her daughter Elliah, three, is her youngest. Home-Start has been supporting Lisa's family through home visits and a family group. Lisa came to Home-Start because she was feeling isolated and felt that she could become a better parent to Elliah if she had support.
Lisa has had difficulties with drugs and alcohol in the past and felt that this had stopped her being the best parent that she could be to her two older children. She recognised that she had made mistakes, but wanted to move on, knowing that she might need a little help along the way. Being brought up in care meant that she had no family to turn to. She knew that she would need to make some new friendships to help her change her life around, so she came to Home-Start.
To begin with Lisa was matched with Helen, a volunteer in her early sixites. Helen became an important figure in Lisa's life; like a mother figure. The support that Helen offered Lisa began to pay off, with Helen being able to show Lisa that trusting people and forming new friendships would be a positive impact on her life.
When Elliah starts school, Lisa is hoping to become a Home-Start volunteer. She says that she wants to 'give something back' to a charity that has helped her turn her life around."
Please support Home-Start so that we can continue to support more families like Lisa's. Perhaps you can help by volunteering or by fundraising?