Celebrations for Home-Start (From Salisbury Journal)

Celebrations for Home-Start

10:20am Saturday 27th October 2012 in New Forest News By Miranda Robertson

A CHARITY that supports hard-pressed families in East Dorset is jumping for joy after scooping more than a third of the funding it needs from the lottery.

Home-Start South East Dorset has been awarded £200,000 of lottery cash over five years to help it train and recruit volunteers to support about 160 families a year, involving about 400 children.

Volunteers help families with a wide range of issues, including lending a hand to mums after multiple births, being on hand for families where parents or children are disabled and when a family member is terminally ill.

They also help out when mothers have post-natal depression, and visit bereaved families.

Manager Wendy Staples said: “It costs us about £140,000 a year to do the work we do, work that is really appreciated by the families as they know people are giving their time for free to help them.

“We give practical and emotional support, go to hospital appointments with them, offer an extra pair of hands.

“We get about 260 referrals a year and can only help 160 families, that’s why this money is so brilliant.”

Jenny Way, chairman of Home-Start South East Dorset, added: “We are thrilled and delighted that the Big Lottery has chosen to support our work with families.

“We have been running for 18 years and our trained volunteers, staff and trustees are recognised by our funders and in our community, as an e x c e l l e n t provider of practical help and support to families facing difficulties in their lives.”

The charity started in East Dorset in 1995 and has helped thousands of local families.

It is funded by lots of small grants, and would welcome people who would like to raise money to help its work, and offers from people who would like to volunteer.

Go to homestartsoutheastdorset.org.uk for more details