Home-Start Aberdeen

Home-Start Aberdeen has been working with communities in the city since 1987. The charity provides vulnerable families with practical and emotional support in their own homes. Support is provided by over 100 trained volunteers, with supervision from a small team of coordinators. Volunteers receive full training and support from their Home-Start Aberdeen co-ordinator. They are carefully matched with a local Home-Start family and need only commit to providing support for as little as 2-3 hours per week. Any city-based family with a child under five who is dealing with issues of isolation, ill health, disability, depression, domestic violence, substance misuse or other challenges is eligible for Home-Start Aberdeen support. The majority of families who are referred to the charity are identified by health visitors and social workers, however families can, and do, self-refer. The main thrust of Home-Start Aberdeen’s activities are the weekly home visits that volunteers make to their referred families. Reasons for families’ referrals may be wide-ranging and complex; the changes that their volunteer helps them to make are correspondingly diverse. Examples include- Improving mental health, wellbeing and diet - Guidance on financial issues, including accessing local debt advisory services - Providing support and friendship to reduce isolation - Improving skills, creativity and employability by promoting volunteer and training opportunities. Home-Start Aberdeen helps local families to improve their quality of life and avoid further crises or breakdowns. The charity continues to seek new volunteers to help meet the needs of Aberdeen-based families. To find out more about volunteering, please call us for an informal chat on 01224 693545 or email admin@homestartaberdeen.org.uk.