Home-Start Falkirk's £90,000 grant to help vulnerable families

Home-Start Falkirk was awarded the bumper sum by the National Lottery Community Fund to enable the organisation to continue providing practical and emotional help to those affected by issues such as poverty, mental ill health and isolation.

Having established five family group hubs across the region over the past two years, Home-Start will use the grant to cover its costs for the next two years, during which more than 300 people are expected to receive support.

The hubs – based in Denny, Bonnybridge, Falkirk, Grangemouth and Bo’ness – have been set up to help families experiencing a range of challenges, including poor physical health, alcohol or substance misuse and relationship and financial difficulties.

Each one will provide those it supports with access to a number of other services.

Whether families need the support of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, speech and language therapists or NHS health improvement workers, Home-Start has all bases covered.

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Guest speakers and visitors will also stop by the hubs to share their skills and experiences.

Sandra Rankin, Home-Start Falkirk manager, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.

“The grant will enable us to continue to support the most vulnerable young families across Falkirk through our family group hubs, providing activities, courses and access to specialist advice.

“The groups are organised and delivered by our family support worker, play worker and trained volunteers. Parents can access peer support and join parenting, cooking and budgeting courses in a confidential, safe space.

“Their children can spend time with adults who are not stressed or anxious in a friendly setting and enjoy craft, storytelling and song time with their parents.

“During lockdown all of the groups have been running remotely via Zoom, with wellbeing, activity and seasonal-themed bags being delivered regularly to the family homes.

“As restrictions have eased, we have introduced outdoors walking groups alongside the Zoom groups to allow parents and children to once again meet up in a safe way.”

Visit the Home-Start Falkirk website for more information.

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