At our meeting of 29th August, we were interested to hear more of the work of Home-Start; a charity locally based in St Andrews and to which the club has donated for a number of years. Home-Start groups exist to provide support and friendship for families and are staffed by trained volunteers - all of whom have parenting experience. It is the UK’s leading family support charity with the mission of ‘Helping parents build better lives for their children’
Senior Co-ordinator Joanne Roddam gave an excellent and detailed explanation of the structure of the charity and of the scope of its work.
Started with one scheme on 1973, it was interesting to learn that there are now Home-Start groups throughout the UK and even in Cyprus and Germany (with British forces). There are 32 groups in Scotland, with 13 covering the East of the country. Closer to home, East Fife groups have been established since 1987 and are currently helping 170 children (4,707 in total throughout Scotland). Local groups are based in St Andrews and Cupar, with plans for a group in Tayport.
We heard that many needs stem from isolation – geographical and social – often particularly difficult for first-time mothers. The organisation does not offer a ‘one size fits all’ kind of help, but is geared to respond to the individual needs identified by parents themselves. It was encouraging to hear that parents, who have been helped by Home-Start, regularly become volunteer helpers themselves.
Services offered include emotional support to parents; help to manage and resolve problems; direct support to children; practical help with budgeting, nutrition, meal planning, cooking and home safety; access to advice on parenting skills and help in dealing with solicitors and court cases.
As Professor Lord Robert Winston observed ‘Home-Start is a very impressive organisation … as it supports interaction between parents and children, which aids child development and increases children’s self esteem. I want to congratulate Home-Start for all it is doing especially in nurturing children, who are our future’.
A warm vote of thanks was proposed by Bill Henderson.
