Hundreds of Fife families given helping hand by Home-Start

Around 550 Fife families with 800 children were supported by the charity Home-Start last year.

Volunteers at the organisation’s six hubs in the kingdom helped families including through one-to-one support, providing outdoor activities and bringing lonely and isolated parents together.

A review of its services found that 70% of families seeking support felt isolated and 60% struggled with mental health. Some 60% also needed help for children’s behaviour or needs.

Comparing new families with those supported for some time, it was found that those already receiving help experienced lower levels of depression and anxiety and coped better with the daily hassles of parenting young children.

In her report on the service launched yesterday, clinical psychologist Dr Marie Renaud said: “The network of trained volunteers work with families from before birth through to school age offering compassionate, confidential help to parents when they need it most.

“Each scheme offers a range of activities, specially tailored to suit the needs of its local areas. The core activity is family support provided in the home by volunteers and family workers.

“Following this snapshot review of 120 families, comparing families asking for support with families already receiving support it is clear that across all the Fife schemes families enjoy better mental health and feel easier about their parenting roles when they are getting support from HomeStart services.”

The charity has bases in Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Leven and north-east Fife.