A GROUP of over 50 volunteers are playing a vital role in Leighton-Linslade by supporting families at tough and challenging times.
Home-Start has just recruited 10 more volunteers to its trusted band who visit families with young children in their own homes.
Since April last year Home-Start has helped and supported 60 families and numbers are continuely rising.
Those in need of some help may be parents who are disabled or have a child with a disability such as autism or ADHD. Families may also be going through a bad patch due to bereavement or depression.
Volunteers, who must be parents or grand-parents themselves and have a caring nature, are carefully matched with the families they visit and may attend once a week for two or three hours to offer practical help such as playing with the children, taking them to the park, or just providing emotional support and friendship.
They are all CRB checked and references collected.
Linda Johnson, Home-Start manager, said: “Some of our volunteers are trained to help families ensure they are accessing all the benefits that they are entitled to and to apply to grants and trusts on their behalf through a project working with Child Poverty Action Group called Maximising Income. The aim is to help to alleviate child poverty.
“Home-Start also runs Return to Work workshops to help parents with young children who are looking at returning to work. We also run the Freedom Programme in the town for women who have been affected by domestic abuse.”
Ms Johnson said: “People often volunteer in order to build up their skills and confidence to gain employment. We place a great emphasis on training our volunteers, both initially with the ten week Preparation Course (once a week for ten weeks) and with ongoing training and their work is supervised by a co-ordinator. Although we are a voluntary organisation we aim to offer a professional service.
“It is a great way of making friends, learning new skills and building up confidence, making use of the skills and life experiences that you have and really making a difference to the community in which you live.
“Volunteers’ support can help a family that is struggling and can stop a difficulty escalating into a crisis and possible family breakdown.
“I think that our organisation plays a vital role in the town particularly as the town grows and families move away from extended family support. As services are being cut I am sure that there will be even more of a call on Home-Start as we provide excellent value for money and are very cost effective.
“There is also not the community that there once was. I think that early intervention is extremely important rather than waiting until problems really escalate. Research has proven that visiting and supporting families in their own homes for a period of time can make a huge amount of difference to both parents and children in today’s stressful society. Our volunteers prove that there is a community in Leighton-Linslade and I know that many of them will say that they get back just as much as they give in terms of enjoyment and satisfaction in contributing to the community.”
Home-Start is now based in Dunstable for more information ring 01582 660061 or email office@home-startcentralbeds.org.uk. Website is www.home-startcentralbeds.org.uk.
More courses for volunteers are due to start soon.