Home-Start Wigtownshire

Telephone:

07443 909484  /  07494089436  /  07519026578

Contact email: 

admin@home-startwigtownshire.co.uk

Website: 

Home

Address:

Home-Start Wigtownshire, Ashwood House, Sun Street, Stranraer, DG9  7NW

Who the service is aimed at: 

Families must have at least one child under 5 years of age to access our service

Support provided: 

Home-Start Wigtownshire is a local charity providing support to families around Wigtownshire, who have at least one child under five years and who are facing challenges in their lives. We carefully match trained volunteers who are either parents, grandparents or experienced carers to provide weekly practical and emotional support to families through a confidential, non-judgemental and nurturing approach. We respond to the individual needs of the family, helping to reduce isolation and loneliness, improve mental health and wellbeing, encouraging engagement within the local community and help increase the confidence and resilience of families.

There are many reasons why families may need help such as:

• Feeling isolated, maybe with no family nearby and struggling to make friends
• Disability/Illness in the family (parent and/or child)
• Poor mental health/Postnatal Illness
• Multiple Births/several children under 5
• Help with Budgeting
• Family Breakdown
• Support with attending appointments
• Joining in your Community

We work alongside parents within their own home environment, encouraging and developing their skills and confidence to help build better lives for their children.

We also run family groups in various locations throughout Wigtownshire. The groups are held weekly and provide a safe and supported environment for quality family time through play.

We also offer a telephone befriending service, where trained volunteers contact families each week to offer a listening ear, support and advice when needed and can signpost families to other services if required

Age range:

Families with at least one child under the age of 5.

Area covered:

Wigtownshire

Can an individual access the service directly, or do they need to be referred to it by another service – like a school, social worker, health practitioner for example?

Families can self-refer, or other services can refer a family.

How to make a referral:

Families can self refer from our website using the contact form

Families can contact us via our social media pages  https://www.facebook.com/HomeStartWigtownshire

Families can contact us via our email address – admin@home-startwigtownshire.co.uk

Families can telephone us.

Services can make a referral using a Request for Assistance form.

Top tips for making a ‘good’ referral (if applicable): 

We have an agency-specific form and guidelines on how to refer into our service

What needs to be in place before a referral is accepted (for example a Child’s Plan)? 

Permission from families must be sought by referrer before a referral will be accepted

Is there a charge/fee for this service? 

No

If there is a charge/fee, is there funding available for this?

N/A