Eammon Holmes helps Home-Start launch new book

26 April 2005

Ulster television star Eamonn Holmes is lending his support to a new book of personal stories from families and volunteers involved with Home-Start NI.

The collection of stories, called Changing Lives in Northern Ireland, which was funded by The Vodafone UK Foundation, is being launched in the offices of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People on Thursday 26 May 2005.

It is hoped the book will raise vital funds for the charity, which offers friendship and informal support to parents with young children.

Eamonn Holmes, who also wrote the foreword to Changing Lives, said: "This collection of very personal stories, written by families and volunteers, speaks eloquently of the powerful, life-changing effects of Home-Start.

"In reading this book I'm sure you will want to do everything you can to ensure that the Home-Start story can be told in every community, so that parents and their children can be supported towards a brighter future."

A free telephone number - 08000 68 63 68 - has been set up for people to buy the book, donate money or enquire about volunteering for Home-Start.

The publication is also available from Home Start's 27 regional centres as well as many local retailers.

Sarah Shillito, Manager for The Vodafone UK Foundation, said they were proud to help make Changing Lives possible: "Home-Start NI works tirelessly and quietly in communities across Northern Ireland, and is unique in offering support to families in their home.

"This book epitomises the wonderful work done by Home-Start volunteers and the way in which the charity has touched the lives of others."

Nigel Williams, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, was also on hand to help launch the publication.

He stressed charities like Home-Start were a key part of making sure children and young people in Northern Ireland could look forward to a better future.

"It always difficult for charities such as Home-Start to source funding and with major cuts in this sector, it is becoming even more of a struggle.

"This initiative will not only raise awareness of the great work undertaken by Home-Start but will also help raise vital funds to ensure this work continues," the Commissioner added.

ENDS

Further details from Home-Start press office

Notes to editors:
1. Home-Start was established in Northern Ireland in 1983, when its first scheme opened in inner East Belfast.

2. Home-Start works across all sections of society in NI, offering a frontline service for children and their families, to help avoid the kind of family crisis that can have a negative impact on children. The charity's volunteers work with families to offer advice and guidance in an informal and friendly way, complementing the work of statutory services. In many areas, Home-Start is the only service health visitors can call on to offer support for vulnerable families.

3. The charity currently runs 27 schemes, with 470 volunteers supporting 1,100 families and 2,800 children in Northern Ireland every year. 136 volunteers supported over 250 families and 663 children on these six schemes last year.

4. The charity currently runs 27 schemes, with nearly 500 volunteers supporting 1,200 families and 2,800 children in Northern Ireland every year.

5. Next week (1-7 June) is Volunteers Week.

6. Changing Lives in Northern Ireland costs:
i. £5.99 from free phone address 08000 68 63 68, including postage and packaging.
ii. £5.00 from Northern Ireland regional offices:

Antrim District - 028 9442 8090 - Margaret Thompson
Ards, Comber & Peninsula - 028 4278 8369 - Joyce Ross
Armagh & Dungannon - 028 8778 9489 - Ruth Briggs
Ballymena - 028 2564 3555 - Virginia Davis
Blossom, Portadown - 028 3833 7455 - Roberta Riley
Dalriada - 028 2073 0444 - Fiona Jinks
Carrickfergus - 028 9332 8875 - Helen Gault
Causeway - 028 7032 1765 - Ann Laird
Clogher Valley - 028 8554 8807 - Siobhan Conlon
Dungannon Town - 028 8772 9695 - Janice McMullan
Colin/Lisburn - 028 9062 1814 - Mary Quinn
Craigavon - 028 3834 5357 - Lucille Lennon
Down District - 028 4461 5727 - Lila Yates
East Belfast - 028 9045 9429 - Eelco Westerhuis
Irvinestown - 028 6862 1970 - Linda Stewart
Lakeland - 028 6634 6818 -Denyse Walker
Lisburn - 028 9262 8585 - Jackie Valentine
Newry & Mourne - 028 3026 6139 - Mary Hutchinson
Newry Central - 028 3026 6139 - Sinead Forde
North Belfast - 028 9077 8999 - Patricia Friel
North Down - 028 91271201- Naomi Hodgins
South Belfast - 028 90963340 - Marie Best
West Tyrone - 028 82240902 - Ann McKeagney

Satellite Schemes
Armagh & Dungannon - 028 87789489 - Diane Gilpin
Ballynahinch - 028 9756 3006 - Ethna Cahill
Newcastle - 028 4372 4531- Dorothy McMullan
Newry & Mourne Kilkeel 028 4176 4120 Bevin O'Hare

7. The Vodafone UK Foundation is a registered charity. It is one of 19 local country Foundations funded by The Vodafone Group Foundation and also receives donations from Vodafone UK Limited. The Vodafone UK Foundation helps 16-25 year olds in the UK to live fuller lives, primarily by increasing their access to information and opportunities and through the use of mobile technology- based solutions where possible. The focus is particularly on those young people at risk of exclusion. It also supports local communities in areas where Vodafone has a significant physical presence and Vodafone employees who are involved in community activities. Wherever possible The Vodafone UK Foundation provides charity partners with a range of resources in addition to financial support. The Vodafone UK Foundation was presented with a PerCent standard logo in the 2003/04 Business in the Community Giving List Report. Vodafone Group was ranked 50 in 2005 The Sunday Times/Business in the Community Companies That Count survey. Further information can be found on www.vodafoneukfoundation.org .

Back to Top