Mike Hancock News
MP Welcomes Success of Local Group in Helping Families
Mike Hancock has celebrated the work of a Portsmouth charity that helps families. Mike was the guest speaker at Portsmouth Home Start's AGM and "Celebration Event" at Action Stations at the Dockyard on Friday 9th October. At the meeting, the MP highlighted and welcomed the increased success that the group have achieved in helping local families. Last year Portsmouth Home Start supported 150 families - the largest number ever in its history.
Home Start trains volunteers that then go and help parents with at least one child under 5 by offering them encouragement and support. While each Home Start group is its own individual organisation, it is part of a national organisation that was founded in Leicester in 1973 and has grown considerably since then.
One mother who was supported wrote in Portsmouth Home Start's Annual Report of the volunteer that helped her - "She supported me through several bad experiences. She always listened and never judged or criticised me. She empowered me to become more involved in children's centre activities and courses. As a result I took on a number of responsible and representative roles - things that I never would have undertaken if it wasn't for her gentle encouragement and unwavering belief in my abilities."
She has since become a volunteer herself.
Mike said: "I was very impressed with the work of Portsmouth Home Start. Their work is clearly making a tremendous difference to families and children in the city. I am also pleased that Portsmouth City Council has been able to fund a family project worker which has cut in half the waiting time for families referred to them for support."
If people want to volunteer to help Portsmouth Home Start they should ring 023 92 734 400.
Notes: More information on Home Start nationally is available at the website at http://www.home-start.org.uk/ and on Portsmouth Home Start at http://www.hsportsmouth.org.uk/
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