120 families received support from Home-Start volunteers

More than 120 families received support from Home-Start, a voluntary service provided by parents to families experiencing difficult times and in need of help. Half of them are still receiving constant support.

In its biennial report presented this morning, Home-Start Malta said that the service was growing slowly but steadily. While in 2012 it had 24 volunteers who visited families and provided the necessary support, last year the organisation had 31 volunteers. The increase may be down to the opening of a Gozo branch.

Apart from guidance, Home-Start volunteers can also offer practical support such as accompanying parents for medical appointments, helping parents organise their household chores such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting skills amongst others.

"We wish Home-Start to be relevant in today's world, to make that significant change in the lives of parents and their children so that they may keep on going, together as a family. These two years have been hard work but they were also very rewarding," Home-Start's chairperson Jacqueline Vella said.

Alfred Grixti, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, described the service as a 'Public-Social partnership' which through parent-to-parent support provided best examples of good parenting.

Home-Start heavily depends on major sponsors Vodafone and HSBC Malta foundation even though numerous fund-raising events were needed to cope with financial demands.

Gemma Mifsud Bonnici, chairperson of Vodafone Malta Foundation, thanked the volunteers for their dedication and assured them that their work was appreciated. She said her foundation backed the organisation since their work was considered as a 'light for families'.

Kate Gonzi, representing HSBC foundation, added that every family needs support at one point or another, and that in difficult times even a word of encouragement may serve as a supportive boost.

After the presentation of the report, one of the volunteers said that she became interested in giving a helping hand after retiring from working as a teacher.

She lauded the professionalism of the organisation and said that while she enjoyed backing families in need, it was essential to refrain from making the family dependent on her.

Home-Start started operating in Malta in 2006 and is supported by Agenzija Appogg.