Rhona's Story
Communication, understanding and inclusion. All grand words and high ideals. And all a fundamental part of Shashi and Amrit Mistry's life as Home-Start volunteers.
As a former children's home worker, she knows just how tough a job can be.
"Once children get into the care system it is very damaging and it is very difficult for them to get out of it. I heard about Home-Start and it really made sense to me. The idea of working with families in their own homes was very appealing. I felt that if you could help parents when their children were young, before really serious problems began, it would be very effective."
When her third child started school, Rhona took the plunge as a volunteer with Home-Start.
"I can remember my first day with my first family
really well.
"The mother was 27 and she had five children - a nine-year-old, a five-year-old, two-year-old twins and a six-month-old baby. She really had her hands full and was experiencing post-natal depression
for the first time - a
real shock after four other children and no problems.
"When I first met her the lasting image is of her
curled up on the couch.
"The baby was six months old but hadn't had a post-natal
check or any injections - the struggle to get to the doctors was just too much
for her.
"We hit it off really well and I was able to support her as she got back on her feet.
"My second family was a young mother with learning difficulties. It took me a few weeks to get my head around how to approach that, but it was very much back to basics and she needed a lot of support."
Rhona's 'best job in the world' has left her in no doubt that home is where the right start is.
"Home-Start is a wonderful befriending scheme for adults, but if you work with the parents it filters down to the children.
"Looking back, I honestly believe that if Home-Start had been involved with many of the children I met in children's homes, those children would never have ended up in care."
