"Every Home-Start volunteer I've met is there because they want to be and they do it because they are kind and caring people."

When Louise Engels gave birth to her first baby- Benjamin he was everything she has dreamed of and longed for. But within a few weeks, as the dark cloud of post- natal illness started to overwhelm her, she had almost blocked out the fact that she was a mother.

"I used to put post-it notes all over the house to remind myself that I was a mum," recalls Louise. "And not to forget to pick Benjamin up if he was crying. That is how bad my post-natal depression got, I was living in a daze."

Often Louise's husband Aaron would come home to find Benjamin parked in front of the television and his wife curled up in a ball on the sofa. He knew that friends had visited the new mother and baby but once Louise had said goodbye to a visitor she'd forgotten anyone had been there.

A health visitor realised that Louise was seriously struggling and recommended Home-Start. "Home-Start South Leicestershire not only supported me when Benjamin was small, but also when I gave birth to my second son, Lieven." Says Louise.

The Engels have had Home-Start support for four years and today two-year -old Lieven and six-year-old Benjamin are happy and thriving little boys. "Our Home-Start volunteers have been important people in my children's lives and really helped in their development. Each volunteer has become a person that they could grow to know and trust and love and has helped teach them that other people do care about them. You can't pay for that kind of support- many support services come into your life to help and although they are committed and professional, they are paid to be there. Every Home-Start volunteer I've met is there because they want to be and they do it because they are kind and caring people."

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