Staff, volunteers and supporters at families charity Home-Start Wessex came together this November to celebrate the outstanding achievements of their volunteers and to thank their fantastic fundraisers and supporters.
For 30 years, Home-Start Wessex has supported local families in crisis, facing mental health struggles, financial hardship, isolation, bereavement, domestic abuse, multiple births, parenting challenges, and life in homeless shelters, providing vital help when it is needed most. Their tailored support services include specially trained volunteers visiting mums at home, early intervention for high-needs families, and community-based groups. The charity currently runs 13 drop-in and referral-only groups across Dorset, including 2 for homeless mums in hostels.
Over the last year, Home-Start Wessex has transformed 1,716 lives, helping a record 526 families. Their reach covers the Purbecks, Swanage, Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport, the whole of the BCP Council area, including Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, across the borders of Hampshire and Wiltshire, going as far north as Cranborne and Fordingbridge and as far east as New Milton – a huge area with a population of over 650,000, including many pockets of high-level deprivation.
Chief Executive Kathy Fryatt-Banks highlighted some of the charity’s achievements over the past 30 years, saying, “In the first 20 years, we supported 2,418 families and 5,838 children, which was amazing. Yet over the last ten years, we’ve actually doubled that, supporting another 3,008 families. Since 1995, we have supported almost 14,000 children in our local area.
The vast majority of the families we support emerge in a significantly better place, which helps their children get the best possible start in life. 98% of parents we supported reported improved mental health and wellbeing, and 95% reported improved children’s wellbeing. 98% reported feeling more confident and less isolated. One mum said, “Home-Start Wessex fills a gap in support for families. It’s been amazing. It’s given me such relief to chat things over. Without this support, things would be really difficult, and my mental health would be bad.”
It rewards all of us individually to know we have made a difference. As our volunteer Dee says, “It’s great to know that you are helping and sharing to give your best support to parents so that they can be more confident in their skills of parenting. After all, our children are our future and deserve the best start that we can give them.”
This year, we have generated more income through grants and fundraising than ever before. We have trained more volunteers than ever before, in new and innovative ways. We’ve introduced new team members with exceptional skills and experience, and we have continued to train our existing staff so that they are well-equipped to support families. We were fortunate enough to win several awards in Bournemouth and Poole during the year, as well as a Gold Community Support Award in Weymouth, where we have been operational for only a year.
I would like to thank everyone for their support. Whether it’s funding, volunteering, or being a member of staff, everyone plays their part. More and more families are feeling the strain and need our support.”
At the celebration event, several volunteers were recognised for their service of two, five, and ten years. Over the past ten years, Flora Hood has supported 16 families in the Bridport area. Nicki Gibbons, who was hailed a ‘COVID heroine’, has supported 13 families around Wimborne. Samantha Ethrington was recognised for two years of volunteer service, working with families in the Bridport area on a one-to-one basis and supporting the Bridport community group. Julie Sephton was described as ‘an inspiration to all’ during her two years of volunteering, supporting four families in the Christchurch area. Volunteers typically provide one-to-one weekly support to a family for a period of six months. Beryl Grey was recognised for her continued support behind the scenes for Home-Start Wessex. Beryl knits a variety of items for Home-Start and helps them provide craft activities in their community groups.
Corporate Partnerships & Marketing Manager Caroline Pope thanked the corporate partners who have provided vital funding over the year, including AFC Bournemouth, Dorset Tea, Holt Recruitment, Saffery Bournemouth, Town & Country Communications and Tesco. “Without your support, we simply couldn’t do the amazing work we do,” Caroline said. “Lastly, thanks again to Sarah Lean, author and our patron, for your continued support of our charity.”
John Stubbs, Chair of the Trustees, said, “Every year we help more and more families and children. Amazingly, the charity rises to the occasion, but it’s always so sad that we have to. To our team, our volunteers and our supporters – thank you. We simply couldn’t do it without you.”
Home-Start Wessex’s support is in more demand than ever. If you could spare a few hours a week to help local families through challenging times and make a difference in your community, please contact office@homestartwessex.org.uk. No experience is needed – just a big heart and a listening ear, as full training and ongoing support are provided.
https://homestartwessex.org.uk/