Befriending Support in Fa’side. We all need a hand sometimes.
A new befriending support project running in Fa’side – Tranent Cluster started this year. This project focuses on helping children and families prepare and be ready for transition to nursery or primary school.
The project is run through Home-Start East Lothian, and the co-ordinator, Evelyn Swinton, was guest speaker at the Parent Council AGM on 25th June. (Big Hopes Big Future is being rolled out nationally, having started in England and now funded locally and in Aberdeen for families with young children, not yet in school).
Evelyn shared this short media film, made here in the Tranent cluster, which gives an indication of what the project aims to do and how it works. The joy of giving caring support at the right times, is how much it can benefit the children, not just the parents.
By providing friendly but high quality of support to families, whether new to the area or facing some particular difficulties, parents can work with their peers to help get life back on track.
The Parent Council and staff present enjoyed the presentation and appreciated Evelyn’s time in answering questions too. All hope that any local families with a young child, who could benefit from a friendly face there to help and support, will be able to be matched to the Big Hopes Big Future volunteers and also benefit from the programme.
To find out more about Home-Start or BHBF project, please contact Home-Start East Lothian.
- Volunteers receive training and support from the East Lothian team.
- Families supported through BHBF or other Home-Start volunteers, or the Support from the Start Family Support Worker Heather, can be assured of being matched to a very caring and understanding person who will work with them to ensure the help needed is provided.
- Families and volunteers tend to report a sense of developing a real friend and having a lot of fun too.