“Mari is a shining example of what is possible when families receive support that truly understands them”

Mum supported by Home-Start volunteer shares story live on GMB

Being deaf can be isolating. For Mari, a deaf mum of two hearing children, when her extended family didn’t believe she could raise two hearing children, it made her feel even more isolated.

But for Mari, having the help of a Home-Start volunteer has opened doors and changed her life. Now Mari and her volunteer Lesley have appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain to tell their story as part of the 1 Million Minutes campaign.

Since 2023 Home-Start has been part of the 1 Million Minutes campaign, which runs throughout December to help end loneliness in the UK. Over the past three years thousands of people have registered their interest in volunteering for their local Home-Start.

The campaign is asking members of the public to pledge their time to charities looking for volunteers to connect and make people feel less alone.

On Friday ​12^th December Mari and her volunteer Lesley spoke to GMB hosts Rob Rinder and Kate Garraway live in the studio about how their relationship has transformed Mari’s life.

When Mari’s mental health deteriorated after having children she needed help, and turned to her local Home-Start, but she needed an interpreter to access the services.

Paula, the Family Coordinator at Home-Start Greenwich researched local British Sign language (BSL) interpreters and found Lesley. Lesley had a long career as a BSL interpreter, and she very kindly offered to interpret as a volunteer. 

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Mari said: “Lesley’s support opened doors for me. Thanks to Home-Start I’ve gained strength and improved my relationship with my children. This has really boosted my confidence; their advice really helped me take back control from those who doubted my ability to manage.”

Paula Ribeiro, Communications, Partnerships and Funding Manager at Home-Start Greenwich, praised Lesley’s exceptional impact, saying:

"Lesley’s unwavering dedication transformed Mari’s life. From feeling isolated to now training as a Home-Start volunteer and stepping forward as our Deaf Ambassador, Mari’s story is a shining example of what becomes possible when families receive support that truly understands them. None of this would have been possible without Lesley’s commitment as a volunteer, a powerful reminder of what the right support can achieve".

Reflecting on her experience, Lesley said:

“I'm incredibly proud and honoured to share this story as part of GMB’s 1 Million Minutes campaign. Supporting a deaf mother like Mari through Home-Start has shown me just how vital accessible communication is. Seeing a mother gain confidence and feel back in control was a powerful reminder.”

Last year Home-Start supported 58,850 families and over 75,000 children across the UK meeting the needs of each family’s individual circumstances, but Home-Starts are encouraging more people to volunteer so the charity is able to support all the families looking for help.

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