Yapton family lifeline facing the axe

VULNERABLE families in Yapton will no longer have a vital support group to turn to after next month, unless desperately-needed funding can be found.

The group in Yapton, and a similar one in Bognor Regis, will meet for the last time at the end of March.

Both are run by the charity Home-Start Arun, which blames a general lack of funding for the decision to axe the groups.

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Families with a variety of difficulties are currently referred by health visitors and social services to the two specialist groups, which offer support through a time of crisis.

Paid staff, supported by trained volunteers, provide friendship, emotional support and help with practical skills such as managing finances, family health, discipline, literacy and parenting.

One group member said; “You have given me the confidence to care of my kids. I get practical support with letter writing and reading. I have made friends here, and this has helped my children to socialise and build our confidence.”

Another added:  “This group. . . has made me a better person and helped me understand that I am not alone. You have all, past and present, been a rock in our lives.”

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Bridget Richardson, Home-Start Arun manager, said: “For many families, a Home-Start group is their only source of parenting support. However, we have no choice but to withdraw our service.

“We provide excellent value for money in terms of outcomes for children, which is why health visitors and social services refer families to us. We are doing all we can to raise funds to keep the groups open, but we have had to inform members of the closure to give them time to adjust to losing this regular support.”

Home-Start Arun is continuing to offer one-to-one home-visiting support by trained volunteers while funds allow.

The charity says it takes a “unique” approach to recruit and train parent volunteers to support struggling families in their own homes. This can be for any reason, including domestic abuse, multiple births, isolation, depression, bereavement and mental health. Last year, Home-Start Arun supported 246 children and their families.

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Added Bridget: “Life is very difficult for many young families at the minute, and Home-Start is seeing an increase in families coming forward for support with more complex needs such as financial pressures, housing difficulties and relationship breakdown.

“But Home-Start can help, and in difficult times, make fragile families strong again. In the last year, almost 1,000 children, nationally, have been removed from a child protection plan where Home-Start was supporting the family.”

Anyone who would like to help Home-Start Arun to keep the family support groups and the charity’s other service running for families across Arun is asked to contact Bridget, telephone 01903 889707, to find out how they can help.

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