My Story 

 

Becca lives with her 3 year old son and receives support from Home-Start Aberdeen:

 

“The lockdowns and isolation from friends, family and getting out and about for our usual routines has been really hard on my mental health. 

I attend the Home-Start Evening Stars group, which runs every second Tuesday.   I heard about Home-Start’s Evening Stars after I had recently joined the group, Rising Stars, which takes place on a Friday morning where the kids come along.

I really enjoyed the Friday group and when I found out Evening Stars was a group just for mums to have a natter and a chat without the kids in the evening, I thought it was a really good idea and wanted to be a part of it – although the kids are still involved in some way or other.

I really miss being able to go out with friends and visit each other’s houses to have play dates, as well as visiting family members who live away from me – in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Being busy is something I’ve always liked as it keeps my mind at bay and I feel I am much calmer when I am around people. 

The lockdowns and isolation from friends, family and getting out and about for our usual routines have been really hard on my mental health.

Evening Stars offers a chance for mums of the group to come and have a chat and blether and help each other with any queries they may have. I love it and have made friends through it.  We have proposed quiz nights. And are even speaking about arranging a get-together for just the mums in the evening when we are allowed out again.

Home-Start and Evening Stars feel like a mini family to me and I know they are there if needed.

It’s been horrible and terribly hard at times, but Home-Start has really been a lifeline to Alfie and I during this time.

No one should be ashamed to ask for help.”

Making a difference

Data gathered by Home-Start UK last year indicated that more than 90% of the families supported by Home-Start volunteers said they felt: 

  • More involved in their children’s development 
  • That their children’s emotional and physical health and wellbeing had improved 
  • Better able to manage their children’s behaviour 
  • Less isolated 
  • Less stressed 
  • More able to cope with day-to-day running of the house 
  • That they were using local services more.