A CHARITY that supports families with young children who are struggling to cope is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Home-Start Croydon, based in the Almshouses on Church Street, was created in 1989 and has provided more than 3,000 families with children under five with free, confidential support.
The charity helps parents undergoing a turbulent time – from people suffering from mental health problems to those in financial trouble.
Around 70 volunteers – aged from their early 20s to their 80s – offer a range of advice and support services to the families.
Scheme manager Harriet Butler believes the voluntary aspect of the support network is what makes it so special.
She said: "I think it works so well because the type of relationship a volunteer brings can't be paid for. As soon as you bring a paid element into it the dynamic changes immediately.
"They have this skill that can only be created by doing it for free. It's so important for the mums to have someone helping you because they want to do it.
"We also have the same confidentiality as professionals but with our volunteers I think it makes parents feel safer because there isn't that element of distrust where they might feel a professional would take their child into care if they admit they are struggling. It is all about that perception."
As it approaches its 25th anniversary, the charity would like to hear from as many of the parents and volunteers who have been through the service as possible.
"We want to hear from the people we have lost touch with so we can find out about their journeys," Ms Butler said. "We also want to know about our volunteers' journeys since they left us. Home-Start has been a good platform for them and many have gone on to become professionals in the field."
Speaking about the support the charity provides, she added: "It's so vital because being a new mother is difficult and people may not have these support networks in place."
Visit croydon-homestart.co.uk for more information.
CASE STUDY Home-Start Croydon has helped more than 3,000 families cope with their young families for more than two decades. Among them are the Alkazzaz family, from South Croydon, and their three young children. After she gave birth to her twins Naya and Zain ten months ago, mum Rania, 33, wasn't sure how she would cope with managing them along with her other son Adam, who is almost two. Her husband Nadim, 36, works in Horsham, West Sussex, as an engineer to provide for the family and is out of the house from at least 8am until 8pm every day. The family's health visitor recommended Home-Start and they had her placed within a month with a volunteer, retired June Nowell, 72. June visits their home at least once a week for three hours and takes Rania and the children out for three hours. Rania, who moved to England from Syria three and a half years ago, said: "I just wasn't able to leave the house with my three children. I physically couldn't take them out on my own and my husband has to work. "June is so good and will help me even if it is not on the set day. She says if she can make it to help me then she will." "Home-Start has meant we can do normal things like go to the play centre with the children." June, who was looking to fill some of her time after she retired as a clerical assistant for the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: "I've had no experience in this area before, I've always just been a good old mum. June said: "I have a great time with Rania and we have a good rapport between us. It's just the satisfaction I get from helping the family out that is great."
