Home-Start and Rotary assisting families in crisis

Donna Arden (Home-Start Scheme Manager), Rotary President Stuart Sawle, Ali Kirkpatrick (Home-Start Family Support Worker), Sharon Pearson (Home-Start Office Manager)

The Rotary Club of Middleton presented Home-Start (Rochdale), a family support charity, with £400 to be used to assist vulnerable families in Middleton providing practical help and support through difficult times.

Home-Start is a local charity offering friendship, support and practical help for families living in the Middleton area. The charity recruits parent volunteers from the local community, who are trained and prepared to visit parents and children at home, with and aim to prevent crisis and breakdown.

Many families who are lonely, isolated, struggling with various health issues, parents and children with disabilities, those struggling with debt, relationship breakdown and families with several young children, access help on a weekly basis.

Home-Start volunteers and referring agencies from within the community, help the charity to identify those families who struggle the most and require support.

Relationships between a Home-Start volunteer and the family is developed; problems are shared and worked through to improve family life. Home-Start volunteers support parents by visiting them in their homes for a couple of hours each week.

Donna Arden, Home-Start Scheme Manager, said: “Thanks to the support from The Rotary Club of Middleton, Home-Start will be able to offer additional support to approximately 40 families living in Middleton area.

“Families who are already supported by Home-Start, may be eligible to access one off help and support with items such as fresh fruit, vegetables, toiletries, breakfast items, dairy products and fuel.

"These are essential items families sometimes struggle to provide, especially during times of stress, illness, loss of earnings, or financial difficulty."

Stuart Sawle, President of the Rotary Club of Middleton, said: “Donna and the entire Home-Start team are making a real difference in our community supporting families who are facing challenging times. The Rotary Club of Middleton is pleased to help with this important work.”

Home-Start also puts regular support and friendship in place, to help children access the support they need, both short term and in the future.

Home-Start is looking to increase the number of parent volunteers they have available to support families, in the Middleton area.

In June 2014 Home-Start (Rochdale) will be recruiting and training new volunteers, who can spare two hours each week.

For information about becoming a Home-Start volunteer please contact Home-Start:

donna.homestartrochdale@yahoo.co.uk 

01706 629651