News Release
Almost six hundred children will continue to be supported as five Home-Start's have their funding secured
28th January 2009
Almost six hundred children will continue to be supported as five Home-Start's have their funding secured.
Five Home-Start schemes across Northern Ireland that were facing closure have received news that funding is to be made available to them so they can continue their work in supporting vulnerable families.
Minister for Health Michael McGimpsey MLA has made the funding available for two years through the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety. The decision was based on a review of these five schemes in Ards, Comber and Peninsula Area, Armagh Outreach (in Armagh & Dungannon area), Ballynahinch, Newcastle and Kilkeel. This means that over two hundred families will continue to be supported by Home-Start's home visiting volunteers.
Home-Start Director, Heather Knox welcomed the decision and said, "This will sustain the level of current family support services provided by Home-Start in each of the five schemes which have been facing closure or reducing their service due to the uncertainty of future funding. There has been an increasing demand for volunteer support given to families over the last year and the number of families asking for help is expected to increase even more over the coming months. Home-Start volunteers offer a lifeline of support to families who are finding the way forward difficult and we have to ensure that local Home-Start schemes will be able to reach out to parents who are in need providing them with emotional support, friendship and practical help."
Anna, a parent who currently receives Home-Start support says: "I really look forward to my Home-Start volunteer coming to my home. She is great with the children. She plays with them, takes them for walks and helps me bath them. The adult company is great, I get down from time to time and her support is invaluable to me. I can talk to her in confidence; she is a great listener and provides me with good advice. She helps me out by accompanying me to appointments with the twins. Until recently I was very isolated as I couldn't manage taking them out on my own. My volunteer boosted my self confidence and gave me great encouragement to get out more, which I am doing now. Thank you!"
There has been a great deal of support from local politicians and councillors for Home-Start's work right across Northern Ireland and this support and backing has been crucial to ensuring the continuation of Home-Start's vital work.
-Ends-
National:
Jo McLeish- Press and PR Officer- Home-Start UK
Tel: 0116 258 7933
Email: jmcleish@home-start.org.uk
Web: www.home-start.org.uk
Notes to Editor
Home-Start is the UK's leading family support charity. We recruit and train volunteers to support parents with at least one child under the age of five. Our home visiting work is unique in the UK. The charity was set up in 1973 and in Northern Ireland there are currently 26 Home-Start schemes. Almost 900 volunteers visit nearly 1,700 families in their own homes - parents supporting other parents in a variety of situations including isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness or disability. Nationally Home-Start supports nearly 35,000 families across the UK.
