More support for Scottish families

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.

Angela Gowdy (second from right) with Home Start Garioch Volunteers

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.