Helping families cope with the ups and downs of life

It’s very simple and very powerful,” says Mary Hanniffy of the work she does with Home-Start Athenry, a group providing support and friendship to parents with young children. Mary is a volunteer with the Athenry-based group which was set up in 2005 and which also serves Loughrea, Craughwell and Oranmore.

The volunteers assist parents who might be feeling isolated, who might be finding it difficult to cope because of illness, who may have suffered a bereavement or a separation, who might have issues with depression, or might just need help with the demands of dealing with a baby or toddler. The help the volunteers offer can be practical, emotional or both. The group which currently has 15 volunteers has helped 38 families with a total of 85 kids to date.

Home-Start Athenry began five years ago after CSO figures showed a sharp rise in the number of families with young children, many of whom were new to the area. It led to an initiative involving local agencies, including the HSE and Galway Childcare agencies, Galway Rural Development and community representatives.

“They were asking how they could support families in the Athenry area,” explains Michael Stapleton, Home-Start’s co-ordinator. Home-start originated in England in 1973 and is now the UK’s leading family support charity. The Home-Start model has spread to Ireland with several groups in this country, including Athenry and their remit is simple, says Michael.

“This is not a scheme for families from deprived areas, it’s for any family who is under a bit of stress. It’s to offer a helping hand to families with young kids.”

From its original base in Athenry it has grown to serve Loughrea, Craughwell and Oranmore.

“We offer the services through public health nurses and social workers in these health areas,” Michael says adding that families can also refer themselves.

“Eighty per cent of our referrals are through public health nurses,” he adds, explaining that because the nurses work closely with families, they know who might benefit from the Home-Start service.

Volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some are working, many aren’t but all must be available to visit their families for two to three hours a week. The organisation recruits via parish newsletters, posters, local newspapers, and also through word of mouth. All volunteers undergo Garda vetting and must furnish two references. Volunteers should ideally be parents or have experience of children. However, while it’s an advantage to be a parent, the most important thing is attitude, says Michael.

They then undergo a 30-hour course to become familiar with the Home-Start approach, which is basically about listening, being non-judgemental and offering confidentiality.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.