Non-judgemental, supportive and friendly help needed

Tuesday 17 April 2018

Volunteers are needed to support families to help ensure their children get the very best chance they can have in life.

Home-Start Guernsey is calling for more people to sign up at a recruitment evening this evening, Tuesday 17 April.

The charity said it aims "to give children the best possible start in life" by offering support to parents of all backgrounds, in varying situations, which can be as diverse as isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness, disability or those who are just finding parenting a struggle.

Home-start launched in Guernsey in 2008 and has provided support to hundreds of families since then, regularly helping around 50 families at any one time. It said it seeks to train volunteers who can be matched with a family, offering "confidential, non-judgemental practical and emotional support" in order to build the family’s confidence and ability to cope.

A number of volunteers offer support through the charity, on a confidential basis, with one telling Express: "I wanted to help Home-start because I was lucky enough to get lots of support and help from my own family when my child was young, and I know not everyone is in that situation."

Volunteers are matched with families through different criteria, with one telling us: "The first family I was matched with had a young child and I was able to help them with social activities while supporting the parents. It was hugely satisfying for me to see the child start to thrive and his parents and I became very friendly."

Pictured: File image

Home-start said volunteers are expected to:  

 * Visit the family’s home regularly 

* Offer support and friendship 

* Share their time and experience with the family 

* Provide non-judgemental practical and emotional support 

To find out more, anyone interested is invited to a Volunteer Information Evening at the Roseville Community Centre from 19:00 on Tuesday 17 April, or contact the co-ordinator, Ayesha by calling 720382 or email: contact@home-startguernsey.org.gg or at:

Home-Start Guernsey 

Roseville Community Centre, 

Petit Bouet, St Peter Port. 

Pictured top: File image of a Home-start Dragonflies group