Case study: Home Start
10:26am Thursday 27th March 2008
ONE of the organisations attending the workshops was a charity that supports young families and was severely affected by funding cuts earlier this year.
Home Start was told by Herefordshire Council its grant of £110,000 was to be slashed by £40,000 this year.
One of 300 Home Starts around the country, the Herefordshire branch is an independent charity and needs to look locally for funding, although it does have a strong network which can be useful, said Home Start chief executive, Jill Hiscox.
She said: "I think events like this are always good because you can learn as much from the other people at the event as the speakers.
"Herefordshire Council regeneration had a stand and they have a funding directory which will be useful. I'm going to get together with them shortly to see where we could apply.
"My budget is around £200,000 a year and much of it is made up from three year service agreements but I am always looking for new sources of funding."
More than 120 families are supported by Home Start but giving support to volunteers is of equal importance.
"Most of our work is home visiting to families with children under five and it can be for many, many reasons. We may have a mum with depression, a child who has a serious illness or disability, a young mum who's had poor parenting and people in isolation.
"We are particularly giving support to the polish community as they are finding it hard to settle in a different country.
"Some of our families can be difficult so we also need to encourage and support volunteers and make sure they get time, too," she said.