A grant of £889 from the High Sheriff of Rutland’s Fund to Home-Start Horizons contributed to the costs of running the organisation’s services in Rutland, which include volunteer training costs, volunteer expenses, resources and craft materials for running the group, and co-ordinator salaries to support the above activities.
Home-Start provide a family support service in Melton and Rutland to families with children under the age of 5 years and who might be struggling with issues such as domestic violence, relationship breakdown, multiple pregnancies, mental health issues, and social isolation. They provide a unique service; recruiting and training volunteers who themselves have parenting experience, to work with families in their own homes, building supportive relationships and responding directly to the family’s individual needs. Volunteers provide emotional support and practical help on a 1:1 basis. They also run family support groups, and provide play and learning activities for children, to promote school readiness and health and wellbeing.
In a recent Social Return on Investment review, it was found that for each £1 that is invested in Home-Start services in Melton and Rutland, £2.56 is created in social value. The review highlighted that one of the major strengths of Home-Start support was in supporting mental health issues. In a six month period, 78% of referrals received indicated that the main carer of the family had a diagnosis of, or identified themselves as having poor mental health, covering a whole range of emotional and mental health issues.
For information about setting up a fund or foundation with us, please contact Katy Green on 0116 262 4804 or email: katy.green@llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk.
