News Release
McGimpsey and Ritchie pay tribute to Northern Ireland's leading family support charity
2nd February 2009
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie hosted a reception in Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday 3rd February. The event at the castle concluded a whole year of celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of Home-Start in Northern Ireland. Over 200 guests attended including, Lady Christine Eames, Home-Start special patron for the 25th anniversary year. (Pictured to the right, Deborah Miller, organiser at Home-Start Craigavon, Heather Knox, Director of Home-Start Northern Ireland, Margaret Ritchie Social Development Minister, Michael McGimpsey, Health Minister and Therese McCann, regional consultant of Home-Start Northern Ireland).
Home-Start is Northern Ireland's leading family support charity. There are 26 Home-Starts across the country supporting families who are struggling to cope, whatever the reason. This can include, post natal illness, family breakdown, multiple births and teenage parents. Last year Home-Start supported over 1,600 families and almost 3,000 children.
Michael McGimpsey said: "I am honoured to be hosting an event that highlights the important and good work that Home-Start carries out across Northern Ireland. Staff and volunteers work together to form a hugely important support network for families, through home-visiting and family support groups. By supporting parents, stable families grow and stable families are the key foundation to safe and strong communities."
Margaret Ritchie said: "The work of the 900 volunteers in Home Start is making a very real difference to the lives of families all across Northern Ireland. Home Start volunteers provide the support and practical help that families with young children need."
Heather Knox, Director of Home-Start in Northern Ireland said: "The trained- parent volunteers who are the bed rock of the Home-Start charity, offer emotional and practical support to families who are finding life difficult. These volunteers are supported by a dedicated team of over 70 staff. It is the skill of the staff team in each Home-Start which ultimately ensures that a family finds the right kind of volunteer support and that volunteers are supported throughout their involvement with Home-Start.
In the last twenty five years Home-Start in Northern Ireland has supported over 25,000 families and has helped over 34,000 children through the support of 7,000 parent-trained volunteers.
-Ends-
Press Contact
National contact:
Jo McLeish, Press and PR Officer T: 0116 258 7933; e: jmcleish@home-start.org.uk
Web: www.home-start.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
Home-Start
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 now supports nearly 35,000 families and almost 71,000 children each year. More than 15,000 volunteers visit families in their own homes - parents supporting other parents in a variety of situations including isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness or disability.
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