Home-Start Garioch in Inverurie is celebrating funding of £257,964 from our Investing in Communities programme for their service, which offers home based support to young families who have at least one child under the age of five.

A range of issues, such as isolation, disability, substance misuse, or illness, will put a family in touch with the project whose volunteers provide practical and emotional help.

Shortly after retiring from paediatric nursing in 1996, Angela Gowdy saw a poster in the library promoting Home-Start Garioch and asking for volunteers. Knowing this was a role she could contribute to she offered her services. An essential qualification for the post was to be a parent or have experience bringing up children. Basic training was provided then Angela’s voluntary commitment began.

She said: “How often we see families and how long we spend with them depends on their needs and circumstances. As a volunteer I make arrangements directly with the family I am matched with and I aim to make at least one call a week. I usually spend up to three hours a week with a family.

“I’m there to listen, offer reassurance and respite, and befriend the children. Our level of support ranges from one to three years and you do develop a relationship with both children and parents. While there can be sad times, because of the circumstances that has brought them to us, there are also a lot of fun times so it can be quite difficult to say goodbye and I keep in touch with quite a few families.”

Home-Start is one of 15 projects sharing in over £4 million today from Investing in Communities. Find out which groups are benefiting here.