We believe that children need to feel loved and secure as they grow-up to be the best that they can be and that parents are the best ones to provide that. All we are trying to do is help you do this.

For those going through a tough time and would like someone who is there just for you and your family, a friendly Home-Start volunteer is what you need. 

Do you ever feel like this?

• Isolated in your community, with no family nearby and struggling to make friends;
• Suffering with a post-natal illnes, but finding it hard to talk to anyone about it;
• Having a hard time coping with your or your child's illness;
• Overwhelmed by the death of a loved one;
• Struggling with the emotional and physical demands of having twins, triplets or more;
• Struggling to cope with relationship problems;
• Tired, exhausted, unhappy;
• Or any similar problems....Home-Start Caithness can help

What does it involve?

Home-Start support is voluntary and flexible and we will never force support on you.  It involves a volunteer visiting you in your own home for around 2 hours per week, once a week to offer you support to help you get through tough times. 

How do I get the support?

You can speak to someone in the office or you can ask your health visitor to refer you.

What happens when I am referred?

One of our coordinators will visit you in your own home at a mutually convenient time, to have an informal chat about what Home-Start involves, what you feel your support needs are and what we can do for you.  If you are happy to take up the support, we match you with a volunteer and make arrangements for volunteer visits.  Once the support has started, your coordinator will contact you to make sure that everything is going okay and you have a review visit about 4-6 weeks after the support has begun. After this, your support is reviewed every 4 months to make sure that the support you are receiving is benefitting you. 

Do I have to pay for it?

No - it is completely free. 

Will anyone know that I am receiving Home-Start support?

We take confidentiality very seriously and all information we hold is kept securely and in the strictest of confidence. Home-Start volunteers will respect your privacy and never forget that you have invited them into your home.  Home-Start Caithness is a charity and is not a statutory service and all of our staff and volunteers are members of the Scottish Government Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme (it used to be known as an Enhanced Criminal Records Check), so you know that you can trust us. 

What sort of things will the volunteer do?

This really depends on what your reasons for support are, but generally volunteers will help by:

• being a friend - emotional support;
• playing with or reading to your child/ren to give you a break;
• helping with parenting and routines;
• practical help, perhaps with budgeting, nutrition and meal planning, cooking and making the home safe;
• helping you to attend medical or other appointments;
• moral support in trying something new, for example going to a parent and toddler group or going swimming;
• helping you find out about and access local services.

Why not read following story to find out how Home-Start Caithness helped a local family or watch Home-Start's latest YouTube video.

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