COVID-19 Impact of Emergency Appeal “I cannot thank Home-Start enough. I feel like you really care” Thanks to your support our COVID-19 emergency appeal has raised £173,000 and has supported over 80 Home-Starts in communities’ right across the UK. We wanted to let you know how your support is helping thousands of families during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since April, you have helped us provide emergency supplies such as baby goods, food and care packages for families in critical need. Your donations have helped us set up and run new online groups and support sessions, and dozens of local Home-Starts have been given the vital equipment they needed to carry on supporting families by phone and on line. Your donations have also helped our volunteers around the country keep in touch with mums like Mercedes who is getting support from Home-Start York’s new local Volunteer Telephone Befriending Services. “During the Coronavirus pandemic Home-Start has really helped us keep sane,” she says. “It’s helped us keep a routine, and keep up with everyone. They’ve continued to be a huge support through calls and video calls and I couldn’t thank them more for everything”. Home-Start Trafford, Salford and Wigan were able to deliver a much-needed food parcel with David* a dad with complex health needs who has to completely self-isolate. When his isolation began, David said “I don't know what I am going to do. I can't let my child starve. I know they are looking after my health, but my child comes first”. They have also provided David with lots of fun ideas and activities he can do with his daughter at home and will be keeping in touch to make sure they have all the support and supplies they need to get them through the next few weeks. It’s a really tough time for families at home without access to toys, books and games and outdoor spaces to play in. So your donations have been helping us provide activity packs and learning materials for some of the most isolated. Emma* is one of over 130 families in Hampshire recently received educational activity packs volunteers and staff had created. "I received the arts and crafts pack this morning from Home-Start Hampshire and it brought tears to my eyes, I'm so grateful. My sons face lit up when he saw what was inside. I cannot thank you enough for all the help and support you are giving. I'm so grateful, thank you so much." Claire, a mum with a two year old child, was one of the parents supported by Home-Start Craven with supermarket vouchers to top-up their weekly shopping. The pandemic threw all of Claire’s plans into chaos. She had just finished her degree and was hoping to start work but has had to put those plans on hold. At the same time, her husband is self-employed so there was no income coming into the family home for several weeks. The vouchers were vital help at a critical time. "The additional help and funds have provided relief in an uncertain period during the Coronavirus outbreak. It has been much appreciated, thank you!" Help us carry on supporting parents like Mercedes, Emma, David and Claire by setting up a regular donation today. Your support has made a huge difference to thousands of families across the UK, but there is always more to do. The impact on families over the past three months has been huge and families will need the support of their local Home-Start as the lock-down finishes. We are already expecting a big increase in the number of families coming forward. Keep up to date with how we are helping to support families after COVID-19 by signing up to our monthly email here. A monthly donation of £11 could help with practical goods like nappies and baby food *Not their real name