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What Our Families Say

I've been with Home-Start since the birth of my fourth son in 2004. I found it difficult to juggle a baby and toddler who was just turned one year old, therefore I was offered the support volunteer programme. Home-Start has great employees who are hard working, and support and encourage parents. My volunteer helps give me support and encouragement to help with everyday situations that sometimes seem a dead-end.

It's been lovely and a real help just to get this support. We (I and Home-Start) feel that we work as a family. The Fathers Group was introduced to us by Yasmin. The children look forward to these afternoons and it gives mum a little break which she really looks forward to and enjoys. It's a friendly atmosphere, where we all get along together and fathers have their bonding time with their children.

We also have summer outings, like Butlins and Littlehampton which are at reasonable prices so that families can have at least an outing without the worry of spending so much. I can express myself openly without anybody judging me at Home-Start. Depending on what I want, my volunteer accompanies me and we experience things I wouldn't do on my own with my children, as I feel I would be unable to cope.

I feel motivated to work through my problems and get through the day. Without a volunteer I felt I couldn't cope with the demands of three under fives at home. Therefore it really helps to have a volunteer.

Lastly, just to add - the Family Group on a Friday morning is a very friendly atmosphere where support is readily available. It's especially good if it's your 1st or 2nd child. I thank Home-Start for all their help.

Many thanks
Seham

"My volunteer has been of enormous value to myself and my family. At times, I don't know how we would have managed without her!"

"I felt the support given to my family was excellent. I had a very good relationship with my volunteer and she encouraged me as a mum and individual and gave me positive feedback. It helped me get through a hard time in my life. I would definitely use the service again if I was having difficulties in my life."

Shannon's Mum and Dad:

"I joined Home-Start in 2005, as a teen mum going to the young mums group on a Tuesday afternoon with my, then, four month old daughter, Shannon. When I joined I was very quiet and had very little confidence. I was made to feel welcome by all the staff and fellow teen mums. It was not long before I made friends and met others mums in the same situation. I was offered a lot of support and advice. My daughter, Shannon. who is now two, has also made new friends who she can meet and play with during the week. In the last year I have also been involved in a drama project which was set up by Home-Start, who also provided crèche facilities for the children of the mums. Overall, I found Home-Start a very helpful and very friendly place to be."

"Home-Start has offered me support and a wide range of information to help me with my parenting skills. I find Home-Start to be keen and willing to help. They are always willing to improve their services and through that improve the circumstances of the young parents that they come into contact with on a day-to-day basis. Although Home-Start is very small I feel that their work is vital to me and other young parents like me. Home-Start has a wide range of groups, two of which I am part of - they are the Fathers Group and the Drama Group. Both have helped me tremendously to better myself."

Jodie (Age 20)

Martin (Age 20)

"As a mother of twins I received support from Home-Start Merton when the boys were 5 months old. I had been finding things very difficult I was diagnosed with post-natal depression by my health visitor and my husband's work was mostly in the evenings. A volunteer came to help me one evening a week, to help with bath and bed routine, by which time I was very exhausted after a long day. We have all, as a family, found our volunteer very supportive and developed a valuable friendship.
Thank you Home-Start"

"Through coming to Home-Start both me and my children have developed greatly and we have always been lucky enough to have the support of the staff and other families. Our confidence in ourselves and around others has grown a great deal and I know that my children have benefited from the stability of the group. Thank you to you all."

"I find Home-Start Merton a brilliant idea. It is a great help and support for anyone in my situation. I would like to express my appreciation towards the staff for being so kind and understanding."