Home-Start came into our lives during one of our hardest times.
I was a single mum with severe mental health issues, I had a 1 year old son and a 4 year old daughter and we had just moved to the I.O.W after leaving an abusive relationship. I was in desperate need of support, a listening ear and a friend.....and that friendly face came in the shape of Mel our Home-Start volunteer.
When I first met Mel I had no idea just how much Home- Start would help change our lives.
A lot of people take having someone that listens to you for granted but to me this was priceless. I felt very lonely, isolated with no family support, so to know I was seeing Mel, or that I could ring and speak to someone at Home-Start when I needed advice was huge. I could always guarantee they would listen, understand and help me find a solution which left me feeling stronger and with a smile on my face.
There is no shadow of a doubt that without the support from Mel and Home- Start I wouldn't be the Mum and person I am today. They went above and beyond in my time of need and helped me see that there was a light at the end of the tunnel as long as I didn't give up.
I still have the struggles that go hand in hand with my mental health but with my new found confidence, the skills I have been taught, the belief and perseverance shown, it has given me the drive and determination to put my past behind me and to create a brighter future for myself and my children.

Home-Start IOW have set an ambitious target of £25,000 to ensure we can continue to meet the need and carry on supporting families who are struggling.
£5 provides a healthy snack for the children who attend our 'invitation only' Family Groups.
£15 pays for a DBS check for a volunteer for a whole year.
£50 is the average yearly cost of a home visiting volunteer making weekly visits to a family to give practical help and emotional support.
£200 covers the cost of training a volunteer. Lots of our volunteers stay with us for years and support many families in their time with Home-Start.
£500 supports our programme of outings and activities during the school holidays (a time of additional stress and pressure for many families) to give parents and children the opportunity to have fun together.

Every £1 donated goes directly to ensuring we can continue to be there for island families when they need us most.