FOR 15 years Home-Start Warrington has been on hand to help parents to build a better future for their children by providing support to families in need.

The independent charity, which was founded in 1999, assists families with children under five who are experiencing difficulties and are struggling to cope by recruiting and training volunteers.

Due to the dedicated and tireless work of the staff and volunteers and the important impact they have on the community, Home-Start Warrington has been selected as the Warrington Guardian’s charity of the year.

Kate Griffiths, scheme manager, said: “Home-Start is an amazing charity that helps some of the most vulnerable families in Warrington to achieve the best for their children.

“Over the last 15 years, Home-Start has trained more than 200 volunteers, supported more than 800 families and 2,100 children.

“This is due in no small part to the kind volunteers in Warrington who give up their time each week to help and support families.”

With 30 trained volunteers at the ready, Home-Start Warrington tackles issues ranging from isolation, premature birth, multiple births and illness through to families struggling with drug abuse and domestic violence or those that just need that little bit of help and support to help them cope.

On average, the charity supports more than 90 families and more than 220 children each year.

Home-Start Warrington, which does not receive any Government funding and is run solely on generous donations and grants, is built on the foundation that every child deserves the best start in life and this begins at home.

Volunteers provide practical and emotional support with the aim to build a family’s confidence and increase their ability to cope.

Kate added: “At Home-Start, we believe parents have a key role in creating a secure and happy childhood - it’s just sometimes they need a little help.

“That’s where we come in to provide parent to parent support in the family’s own home for around three hours a week.”

The bank of volunteers, who are parents themselves or have had parenting experience, and have under gone a 10 week training course with Home-Start Warrington to prepare them to offer the highest quality support.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer visit homestart-warrington.org.uk or call 652320. The next course is due to start in May.