Behind Closed Doors
We have launched our new “Behind Closed Doors” appeal to raise awareness of the hidden struggles many local parents face, including mental health challenges, grief, domestic abuse and caring for a disabled child. Through friendship, emotional support and practical help, we support families with at least one child under five who are experiencing difficulties, offering specialist groups and one-to-one home visits. Last year, we supported a record 526 families and helped transform the lives of 1,716 people, with the vast majority of parents supported being mothers, many of them single mums.
As part of the campaign, we are asking local employers to display our posters behind workplace toilet doors to help reach parents who may be silently struggling. Many parents feel pressure to keep going while juggling work, finances and family life, often hiding how overwhelmed they really feel. Our trained volunteers provide confidential, compassionate and non-judgemental support tailored to each family’s needs, helping parents build resilience and improve their wellbeing. If you or your employer would like to support the Behind Closed Doors campaign, please get in touch with Darren@homestartwessex.org.uk or donate today.
More Than a Cup of Tea
It’s more than a cup of tea… With Home-Start, it’s life-changing.
The power of tea is a message we’ve always shared with our families. To stop for a moment and talk to someone over a cup of tea can be a really wonderful thing. At Home-Start Wessex, we do this and so much more. By volunteering with us, you can make the difference to a vulnerable family. Take the leap and:
– Help new mums overcome social anxiety, getting back into the community
– Support with getting little ones into a routine that works for the whole family
– Be a friendly ear for those struggling with the challenges parenting brings
– Provide reassurance during tough life events and tools for the future
It all starts with a cup of tea…
1001 Days
Home-Start Wessex are proud members of the First 1001 Days group, a coalition of over 200 charities and professionals supporting children in the first 1001 days of life.
Home-Start UK Chief Executive, Peter Grigg, spoke in Parliament to help launch the First 1001 Days manifesto on Tuesday 19th March.
The First 1001 Days manifesto outlines a call for urgent support for vulnerable babies, amid growing concerns about the health and welfare of Britain’s youngest. The appeal follows last month’s warning from the Academy of Medical Sciences that the UK is “betraying” young children, by neglecting their essential physical and mental health needs.
