Home-Start Ashfield offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children
Home-Start offers a unique service. We recruit & train volunteers who are usually parents themselves to visit families with at least one child under 5 & offer them informal, friendly & confidential support in their own homes. To help give children the best possible start in life, Home-Start Ashfield supports parents as they grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children & widen their links with the local community.
Why the community needs usWe help to improve the physical and emotional health and well being of both parents and children encouraging them to benefit from the joys of family life and to participate in community life and services. This early intervention reduces the risk of neglect to children, gives parents the support they need to get through a difficult period in their lives or learn simple life skills that most of us take for granted, and then move on with their lives becoming part of the community.
Our impact on the community- prevention of family breakdown - reduced need for statutory intervention - improved mental health - stronger parent/child relationships - increased community involvement - better use of local services - fewer missed appointments - families less isolated and horizons widened - children learn from a consistent adult role model - parents grow in confidence
Volunteering itself can be very worthwhile, it offers a great opportunity to help the local community, and it can boost confidence and self esteem, can even get a foot on the ladder in finding employment.Volunteers help families by:1. Playing with the children 2. Someone to talk to3. An extra pair of hands4. Friendship5. Accessing information about other agencies or benefits and much more
