Home-Start Blackmore Vale
There for parents when they need us most, because childhood can't wait
The family’s we support are all unique, all are made up differently. The issues they are trying to deal with are as varied as the families themselves. The stories below have been written by some who have been supported by Home-Start Blackmore Vale, formerly Home-Start North Dorset.
Family 1
I was a Lone father with a one-year-old daughter new to the area after fleeing domestic abuse. I was new to parenting and residing at a Refuge. I lacked confidence in my ability to parent and was isolated from all my family and previous friends.
Home-Start Blackmore Vale supported me with a weekly visit over the course of 6 months. My volunteer provided some much-needed adult company, and accompanied me to register with a GP, library, and Children’s Centre. She also researched and signposted local services to find my daughter some regular activities and then a place at a suitable local nursery. This gave me the time to keep solicitor and court appearances. My volunteer gave me advice and guidance on parenting and helped build my confidence. She also helped me to take control of my finances and we planned a personal budget together.
I was eventually rehomed in the area and settled into a new life away from domestic abuse. I was granted full custody of my daughter and we settled into a routine whereby she attended a local nursery for 15 hours per week. I started to become more involved in my local community and secured some part time employment. My confidence has grown so much thanks to Home-Start. I feel excited about being a father and can now enjoy parenting and interacting with my daughter.
Family 2
My partner and I were really struggling with the demands of two children under five. My husband was working full time and I was working part time. We were working at different times of the day and were therefore spending little time together as a family. We were really starting to struggle to manage our children’s behaviours and finding it hard to establish routines. Both children were often awake late into the evenings, so we were getting no down time. This was causing a lot of strain on our relationship.
Home-Start Blackmore Vale visited us every week over three months at different days and times. This supported both of us individually. Our volunteer visited some evenings to support and establish clear boundaries and bath/bed routines for the children. He helped with advice and modelling positive parenting, appropriate rewards for the children and behaviour management strategies. He helped us access appropriate activities for the under-fives in our area as we both lacked confidence in attending groups, but he came with us and supported us along the way.
Family 3
I had a young baby of two months and I had recently fled domestic abuse. I was residing in a refuge in North Dorset, an area I had never been to before. I felt lonely and isolated with no friends or family, unfamiliar with the area and being a new mum. I was really lacking in confidence to parent my child and anxious about walking out by herself.
Home-Start Blackmore Vale matched me with a volunteer who visited me weekly. She provided some much-needed friendship and adult company. She was a parent herself so gave me some advice on caring for new baby. She accompanied me to register with a local GP, Children’s Centre, Library, and mum’s group. She also supported me to complete forms and a housing application. once I had moved into my new home my volunteer continued to visit me. She helped me access other services such as getting furniture for the new house. She also supported me to attend a mother and baby group which meant I was able to make some friends in the area. I was so thankful to the support from Home-Start that I decided to start volunteering myself. This has given me so much confidence and even supported me to get back into the workplace.
Family 4
My partner and I were young parents, with a son of two and a new baby. We both lacked confidence and I struggled with anxiety and trust following a difficult past relationship. My partner had been working long hours for minimum wage and taking the car all day, which left me really isolated at home with the children. We really started to struggle after the birth of our second child and this was when our eldest became really challenging. I felt exhausted and alone. I did not feel I could take the children out alone and even lacked confidence in how to play with my son. I was so lost and not coping.
Home-Start Blackmore Vale provided us a volunteer who modelled positive play techniques. When I felt more confident, she helped me to take both children out. Our volunteer provided local information on some groups and activities and after some time I was able to access these on my own. My partner and I both felt the atmosphere at home had improved and he even said he no longer dreaded coming home. Things are so much better now thanks to Home-Start.
