The project launched in 2017 as a direct response to the many support enquiries the organisation received relating to families in this location which at the time had no support service in place. After 3 successful years in operation in this locality with the Home-Start team and their amazing volunteers providing the much-needed support services to more than 200 families in the area, this funding will ensure that the service can continue and develop.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will allow Home-Start in Suffolk to recruit and train more volunteers specifically in the Waveney area, giving them the capacity to support even more families over the next 3 years in this geographic location.
The project will support families as they navigate through challenging situations, providing early intervention to prevent the family reaching crisis point and giving them improved access to health and wellbeing services to improve their general health and wellbeing as well as giving local people training as volunteers, access to accredited training, formal qualifications and skills which will benefit themselves and the families they support. By supporting marginalised communities, children’s mental health and wellbeing will be improved through integration, accessibility and opportunities accessing local services.
Tara Somers, CEO at Home-Start in Suffolk said “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund continues to recognise our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to continue to develop the support for families in this area of Suffolk and press on with our plans to broaden the range of opportunities available to parents and children as they work through challenging times.“
Patron Miranda Kendall added “I was thrilled to learn that the National Lottery Community Fund has given Home Start in Suffolk further recognition by awarding new funding. This sends such a positive message about Home Start’s work at a time when the organisation is skillfully adapting working methods to support families during the current crisis.”
Tracey, a mum supported in the area by this project said “Home-Start made me feel that there was a light at the end of tunnel when I didn’t feel like that before. My Social Worker put me in touch with Home-Start and my volunteer helped enormously with my confidence and this has improved me mental health too.”
Home-Start in Suffolk has been supporting families across the county for over 20 years and has an army of over 225 fully trained volunteers that provide vital practical and emotional support through their home visiting services. As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation has adapted its service model to adhere to the current social distancing regulations. The home visiting service is temporarily suspended but a regular telephone or video call support service has been introduced to help vulnerable supported families during this unprecedented time.
A further response in recognition of the huge number of families in need during the current pandemic sees Home-Start in Suffolk launching the new ‘Families Connected Suffolk’ support line this month. This will give even more families access to the support they need from our team of amazing experienced and fully trained volunteers. As the support line is an additional service to the support already offered by Home-Start, the team are now working hard to source funding for this new project through donations.
To make a donation or to find out more about Home-Start in Suffolk visit www.homestartinsuffolk.org.
