I decided to become a Home-Start volunteer myself because I felt that with my life experience, I had the life skills to help others.

I first heard about Home-Start through my health visitor nearly nine years ago. My husband had had a heart attack and my health visitor felt that having the support of Home-Start would help me through this really stressful time. Not only was I coping with an ill husband, but I was also looking after six children all under the age of ten.

My relationship with my Home-Start volunteer became a friendship and to this day we are still in contact. Because of the help that I received from Home-Start, it inspired me to do the same. I knew what a struggle it could be to raise a family and so I could empathise with a family that was finding it hard to cope. I also wanted to give something back to a charity that had helped me change my life.

I have been helping out at Home-Start's family group and in November I am looking forward to supporting my first family when I start my home visiting volunteering.

My hope for the future is to continue to volunteer for Home-Start and to start an advisor course. My aim to work with people from various backgrounds and with all different problems in life. I feel that Home-Start has opened up this door for me.

I would say to any family needing support, don't stay at home feeling isolated, contact your local Home-Start. No one at Home-Start is judgmental, the volunteers are there as friends, they are a supporting shoulder to lean on.

Home-Start helped me turn my life around and gave me my self confidence back. To volunteer for Home-Start and to help get a family back on their feet is a wonderful experience.

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