Home-Start - Making a Difference.

Raising a young family can be very challenging, even overwhelming. It can be a very lonely experience. Home-Start, the family charity which helps relieve stresses for young families, understands these pressures. Home-Start offers regular support, friendship and practical help to families in their own homes throughout the borough.

Volunteers, all parents themselves, are recruited, trained and matched up with families. They provide a lifeline to parents who are overpowered and isolated by the stresses of family life. They visit families in their homes and help tackle issues such as

They promote the fun side of parenting offering a pair of hands to play with children and accompany them on family outings.

The main ethos of Home-Start is to support parents in their homes. Since we started 5 years ago, we've supported over 300 families. It's wonderful to see a family blossom and flourish having built up a trusting, reassuring friendship with their volunteer. We have a helping hand in enabling parents to build confidence and self esteem and often they move on to support other parents, access further education and even employment

Crewe Mum, Cheryl (name changed to protect identity) turned to Home-Start for support when she discovered she was expecting twins and was overwhelmed with exhaustion by keeping up with an 18 month old.

My Health Visitor suggested Home-Start, I agreed and when I first met my volunteer Kate, I felt comfortable straight away. She's wonderful. I needed a friend and she is just that, I can trust her. She gives me reassurance and we have good times together. The children and I really look forward to her visits

Home-Start also runs 2 Family Groups, one in Crewe and one in Nantwich, to try to relieve the isolation of parenting. Families are encouraged to come and meet other Mums and staff for support and the children play and mix with others.

The charity now supports almost 40 volunteers in their work of helping local young families under stress, by time, experience and friendship. Demand for the service is high and Home-Start need new home-visiting volunteers. They also need those with financial or legal experience for their management committee.

At the moment Home-Start are desperately seeking funding to continue the crucial support work they are doing in the community. There is an ever-present risk of closure if they can't attract future contributions.