If you would like to support them and raise money for Home-Start Northampton you can still donate through the following Just Giving web page;

 www.justgiving.com/Ryan-O-Leary

WELL DONE TO BOTH OF YOU!

Circus Starr is an all human touring circus which raises much needed funds for community charities from the sale of tickets and sponsorship packages to local businesses.  This year money raised went to Northampton General hospital, childrens ward.

Circus Starr also donates tickets to disabled and underprivileged children and their families who otherwise would not get the chance to enjoy the magic of circus. They profoundly believe that without Circus Starr many of these children wouldn‘t have the opportunity to enjoy such a day. This is often a unique experience that remains with a child for the rest of their life.

Circus Starr has already given over 1 million children this opportunity through their Donated Ticket Scheme and with the committed help from local interest groups, authorities, media and businesses throughout the UK, continue to raise this figure.

Tour dates and ticket prices can be found on their website; www.circus-starr.co.uk

I was put in touch with Home-Start again after the birth of my second child, Jane, 6 years later.  This time our volunteer was not a retired woman but a young mum herself, Nicola. She was practical as well as emotionally supportive and I was very sad when her husband’s job dictated they moved away shortly before I gave birth to my third child.  Pauline then became my volunteer.

When Liam arrived life was very hard for us.  A traumatic birth ending in a c-section and severe postnatal depression coupled with Liam being a difficult baby meant for trying times.  He was discovered to have a genetic fault that left him with developmental delay (he didn’t walk until 2 years old), hypertonia (weak muscle tone) and a myriad of other minor issues added to the stress in my household.  He cried a lot and Pauline became a lifeline.  Sometimes her arrival gave me a sense of peace as I knew that whilst she was in my home I was not alone against the world.  She has a deliciously calming quality that manages to always leave me feeling kind of relieved and although I never told her she often gave me the emotional strength to battle on ’til the following week.

In the months that followed my family saw intervention from the Family Support Team of the Children and Young People’s Service and the community mental health services.  Home-Start was verging towards a necessity in my existence.  Its unique quality of care kind of nurtures you as a person, mum and as a family unit, never judgemental and always consistently following your wishes is a stark contrast to the authorities.

My eldest daughter found it all too much and went to live with her dad in February 2007.  I was devastated.  Predictably, it was Home-Start who helped me pick myself up and dusted me down.  I knew they were truly there for my family without prejudice of our situation.  It was a shock to discover shortly after that I was pregnant with my fourth child.

Home-Start has been a major part of my family for a long time.  Jane starts ‘Big School’ (September 2008) soon.  At that point we will be saying our goodbyes.  Over the years it has provided me with so many things - from basics such as practical support helping with my children after 2 c-sections, helping with my rabble as we attended Liam’s physio appointments and making it possible for me to get my teeth seen to.  Home-Start has been a powerful advocate at Family Support Planning Meetings.  Knowing us so intimately helped ensure that the extra help we really needed was forthcoming and they weren’t visiting and providing just a ’sticking plaster’ solution.  Most of all, it has been a very special emotional support that has given me strength, courage, confidence with my children and parenting skills (and the occasional kick up the pants when I’ve asked for it).

NEVER underestimate what Home-Start Northampton offers.  All of the above plus wonderful Christmas parties, picnics and trips that allow the children extra happy childhood memories they richly deserve.

Finally, before I leave you to ponder more pressing matters, I’d just like to say that Home-Start Northampton hasn’t seen the last of me.  When my youngest child starts school (she is nearly one as I write this) it is my intention to train as a volunteer.  I hope with all my heart that funding to this scheme continues so they can carry on supporting families like mine and I can fulfil my volunteering wish.

If I can give Home-Start even a fraction of what it has given me it will be a fitting tribute to all they stand for.  I truly understand the value of a volunteer and they are worth far more than anything you could possibly imagine. I cannot express my gratitude to them in words as ‘Thank You’ seems ridiculously inadequate.

Home-Start is so much more than a cosy cup of tea and a chat - my family are living proof of that.

I had no prior knowledge of Home-Start and even after the initial visit from the co-ordinator was still a little uncertain of what to expect.  Meeting my volunteer for the first time was a strange experience.  What will this person be like?  Will they like me?  Will I like them?  Will they judge me?  It can be a daunting experience.  I need not have worried however, Liz, my volunteer, turned out to be a lovely person.

She visited once a week for a couple of hours and some days we would chat, maybe go shopping, have coffee, sometimes she would spend time with the children.  I know they loved it when she took them to the local park.  It would depend how I was feeling on the day she visited and whether the older children were on school holidays.  When I was referred to Home-Start, I had no confidence in my ability as a mother or as a person in my own right.  It took some pointing out that I was a good mother and that I was doing well, gradually I got the message.

Due to improvements in my mental health, statutory services withdrew, leaving Home-Start as my only support.  I joined a weekly group run by Home-Start, which encouraged me to socialise with other mothers whilst my youngest child played in the crèche.  With my new-found confidence, I signed up to assertiveness courses run by Nutrac.  All the time I had the continuing warmth and support from my volunteer.  Gradually I began to rebuild my life.  Things did not always go smoothly, I would still find days when it all seemed too much but I got through them.  Home-Start Northampton was a part of my life for three years and I was lucky enough to have the same volunteer in all that time.

My experience with Home-Start is an incredibly positive one.  Without the consistent warmth and support from my volunteer, it would have been harder for me to move on with my life.  Statutory support has its place however; it still maintains a sense of stigma and an idea of dependency.  Home-Start provides support whilst enabling the individual and the family, there is a profound difference between these two approaches.  Eleven years on and my children have grown up fast, I am now working, studying with the Open University and I am a Home-Start volunteer.  I am a person that I could not have envisages when I was referred to Home-Start all those years ago.