50% of the families who came to Home-Start for help last year say they were trying to cope with loneliness and isolation.  48% were struggling with mental health issues.  Other issues included difficulties dealing with household budgeting, children's behaviour or parents' own confidence. Many families were struggling with two or more issues at the same time.

To mark the release of the figures, BBC Radio Five Live highlighted the subject and opened it up for discussion across the nation on Wednesday 19th October in two programmes:

BBC 5 Live Breakfast. Listen again to hear Danielle talk about the isolation she felt when her partner died suddenly.  She is interviewed 1 hour and 25 minutes into this programme:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07z3z7h 

BBC 5 Live Afternoon Edition.  Listen again to the whole of the first hour of this programme. Broadcast from Partington Children's Centre in Greater Manchester, it talks about the issue of isolation for mothers and fathers, how Home-Start can help, and how the children's centre brings people together: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07z3z7h. Home-Start Trafford and Salford manager, Kathryn Eckersley, talks through the fgures and Home-Start's work.  

The third hour of the programe is a phone in with parenting expert Sue Atkins about how to deal with toddler behaviour.

See the issues families struggle with, and how Home-Start can help.

Find your nearest Home-Start so you can ask about help, volunteer to help others, or donate to support our continued work with famiilies.