H O ME - S TART IN S UF FO LK
As a result, the specially trained volunteer visits families weekly, either at home or at a chosen meeting point, for support and advice, whatever is more appropriate. “We had to meet one client – a mother with young children – in a car park for just 15 minutes at a time because she was too nervous to have anyone visit her home.” Explains Tara. “We kept going back time after time and just over a year later the mum felt able to leave an extremely abusive relationship and is now living in safety in a new home with her children.” The sort of support offered varies on a case by case basis – maybe a child or a parent has a diagnosis of terminal illness, which is very challenging. It might be that someone has mental health issues and can’t cope with getting their children out to school in the morning or maybe they need someone to read bedtime stories. One client – quoted in the annual report – says, “Before Home-Start, I struggled to leave the house because of my mental health. When support started, I wanted to stop it all because my mental health got the better of me. I stuck at it because I knew I needed it. Thanks to Vikki, I can now go out with my children without having to worry. Home-Start is different from other types of help because they only do what you feel comfortable with.” Obviously, as support is so specialised volunteering for Home-Start involves a rigorous selection process and long and careful training. “The volunteers come from all walks of life – some are retired social workers or health visitors, but others come from completely different backgrounds with parenting experience” says Tara. “Our volunteers are all committed and simply want to work with families and give them better opportunities.
“In the last year our volunteers supported 1,400 people across 420 families, but with over 33,000 children living in poverty across the county and potentially 16,000 families that need our help, the need to recruit more volunteers is increasing.” In addition to individual help, Home-Start also has three group schemes; a family drop in group based at Nansen Road Baptist Church offering an opportunity for adults and children to socialise in a friendly and welcoming environment with age appropriate activities run by a coordinator and volunteers, a homework club based around science and maths at Ravenswood Primary School in Ipswich which is run by a volunteer and a teacher from the school and there’s also a youth group, run in conjunction with 4YP for the eight to 12-year-old age group encouraging young people to try out new things and build confidence. Tara, who was recently named as a Suffolk Inspiring Leader in the High Sheriff’s Award, says that Home-Start has various funding streams. There is a partnership with Suffolk County Council with support from Home-Start aiming to prevent social services involvement, there’s also been National Lottery funding and funding from Children in Need. Home-Start in Suffolk hosts some small fundraising events each year such as quiz nights and wreath making courses. Moving forward, as demand for the Home-Start service continues to grow, they hope to increase community involvement with the charity through further events. The major fundraising event is the annual Snowflake Ball, which is held at The Hanger at Milsoms, Kesgrave Hall. Next year’s ball is set to take place on 15 May 2020 and with new Patron Anthony Horowitz set to attend the guests will be in for another spectacular evening.
Anthony Horowitz
Anthony became Patron in May this year and when asked he was very clear about why he had chosen this small charity. “I’m so pleased to have become a patron of Home-Start in Suffolk...it really is the perfect charity” explained Anthony. “It's doing very valuable work right where it matters, inside the community, inside peoples' homes. Of course, the first casualties in families are often children and, as a children's author myself, I believe every young person should grow up not just with dreams but with the chance to have those dreams fulfilled. For me, charity begins at Home-Start.” As part of the charity’s 20th Anniversary celebrations, a new fundraising initiative was launched earlier this year – The Platinum Challenge. Aimed at gaining support from 20 local businesses, the Platinum Challenge invites individuals and organisations to sponsor a year from 1999 to 2019 and pledge to raise a minimum of £1000 over twelve months through fundraising activities which can be themed around the chosen year. So far, nine organisations have pledged their support. At this time of year, the charity tries to help those clients with financial issues with donations of food. “Christmas is a very difficult time and it’s hard for parents who are unable to buy gifts for their children. Even basic items of food like pasta, tinned goods or even a £10 Tesco voucher can make a difference to some of our clients,” Tara added. If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved in any way, from volunteering to fundraising, then contact the Home-Start in Suffolk team. INFORMATION 01473 621104 headoffice@homestartinsuffolk.org www.homestartinsuffolk.org
EssentialSUFFOLK
37