Volunteers Matter
Home-Start UK held an event on 12th May to celebrate the contributions of its volunteers and the positive impact they have on thousands of families across the UK.
The Volunteers Matter event was held at London's Living Room in the presence of HRH Princess Alexandra, Patron of Home-Start.
Baroness Neuberger DBE, the government's champion of volunteering, shared her views on the impact of volunteers. Read excerpts of her speech.
Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector also spoke.
Home-Start has published a briefing paper on 'family support services - the role of volunteers'. The briefing paper outlines Home-Start's position on the important part that home-visiting volunteers make to the delivery of family support services. Read the full brief.
At the event Kay Bews, chief executive said "I've seen how Home-Start volunteers work so effectively with families with long term, complex needs. They also support so well those experiencing short term, intense periods of stress".Read the full speech here.
Read the press release here.
Two volunteer / family stories were highlighted at the event:
- volunteer Helen supports Modupe who was suffering from post natal depression and was referred to Home-Start by her midwife.
- volunteer Angela supports Zoe who lives with her partner and two small boys and feels isolated.
Their stories are displayed in the photo essays below. To see the photo essays in detail, see Angela and Zoe and Helen and Modupe
Angela and Zoe
"I'm three floors up and feel so cut off from the outside world ... with Angela it's no longer a struggle to go out and my children get to run and laugh and play"
Zoe
Helen and Modupe
"I was so lonely before Home-Start. I have no family here and no-one to talk to ... meeting Helen has changed my life. She opened the door to my life in Britain"
Modupe
read their stories
Watch the Home-Start Changing Lives DVD that was shown at the event.
Want further information? Email us.
Photography credits:
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event photography (three images, top right of page) by Alex Robinson, www.alexrobinsonphotography.co.uk
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photo essays by Immo Klink, www.immoklink.com
