Home-Start

East Fife

What is Home-Start?

Home-Start is a national voluntary organisation which provides support for families under stress with at least one child under the age of five. Trained volunteers offer regular support, friendship and practical help to families in their own homes, helping to prevent family crisis and breakdown.

Home-Start East Fife was established in 1987 and since then has supported over 600 families with 1000 children. Home-Start supports families from all sectors of the community, and for many varied reasons.

The service provided is confidential and information about families is not shared with anyone outside Home-Start except, when a child needs protection.

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Supporting Families

We offer support to many people including:

new parents
families with twins, multiple births or several pre-school children
single parents
mothers with post-natal depression
families with financial, housing or relationship problems
lonely or isolated parents
families where there is ill health or disability/special needs
families who are in a new area

Any family with at least one child under five years of age, experiencing difficulties or a stressful situation, can ask Home-Start for help.

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Home-Start Volunteers

Home-Start volunteers come from many different backgrounds and vary in age but all are either parents or have parenting experience. After completing our Preparation Course, they are carefully matched to families. The volunteer and the family ten decide when visits will take place and how the time will be spent.

The type of support varies according to the needs of each family and could include:

listening and offering companionship
friendly support for as long as it is helpful or needed
reassurance during difficult times
helping with trips to surgery, hospital or clinic
playing with the children
providing other practical help

New volunteers are always needed to respond to the requests for support, which are increasing due to Home-Start's reputation for quality care. Please contact us at any time for more information on becoming a volunteer. No obligation!

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Family Groups

The Family Groups meet once a week during school term time in St Andrews or Cupar to give parents and their pre-school age children the opportunity to meet, socialise and play - activities which may not be available to them elsewhere. Parents can relax while their children play in the large, child-safe area under the care of Home-Start staff and volunteers.

As well as providing a social opportunity, the Family Group encourages families to form their own support network and is often used as a bridge between one-to-one volunteer support and the family becoming independent of Home-Start.

Summer outings and a Christmas Party are also provided for all the families throughout the Home-Start scheme.

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What to do next

Here are several ways to find out if Home-Start can help you:

contact Home-Start East Fife directly
talk to your Health Visitor or GP
ask a Social Worker
ask a family member or friend to contact Home-Start on your behalf

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Contact Details

Home-Start East Fife is based at:

158 South Street
ST ANDREWS
Fife KY16 9EQ

Tel: 01334 477 548
Fax: 01334 478 612

Email homestart@east-fife.fsnet.co.uk
Website: www.home-start-eastfife.org.uk

Contact Deborah Jones, the Senior Co-ordinator, Anne Rutherford, Co-ordinator or Lauren Sykes, Administrator, for further information, or leave a message on our 24-hour answering machine service.

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We value and welcome your input on our website and would appreciate any feedback regarding ease of use, whether it contains the information you want, etc. Please contact vonef with your comments.

Patron: HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, GCVO
Scottish Charity No. SC010242