We’re launching new services today
Today we are launching our new services offering support to parents across the whole of Edinburgh and MIdlothian thanks to new lottery funding:
Read our Briefing Paper here
We feature in a Government research document
The Early Years Change Fund was established in 2011 as a Partnership fund between the Scottish Government, local government and the NHS totalling £274.25million. Its task was to take forward a significant change programme to help deliver the joint commitment to prioritising the early years of children’s lives and to embed early intervention and prevention.
Their recent publication on Community Planning Partnerships includes a case study of Home Link’s work and says
“Befrienders highlighted the critical role of daily routines such as meal times, homework and bedtime as a vehicle for learning: “every day is a learning day”. Key outcomes are to improve the parent/carer interactions, giving them a deeper understanding of the child’s developmental stages.”
Read the full case study here
Meet our newest volunteers
Our latest volunteers are half way through their training and are looking forward to being matched with families in Edinburgh and Midlothian.
They’ll be offering great early learning opportunities to under fives and lots of support and encouragement to parents.
You could join us for the next training in late October, there are still a few places left click here for more info
How kindness helped
A parent we spoke to this week described our service in a nutshell:
“I just appreciated having a kind and friendly person who was genuinely interested in me, my life and my children. She made me realise that I am not alone and that there are wonderful people in the world who are willing to give up their spare time to spend with complete strangers and help them out when they are really struggling. That in itself is truly heart-warming and made me feel good.”
Midlothian Play Day
Our gazebo HQ was humming with folk all day at Midlothian Play Day. Organaised by Midlothian Association of Play in Vogrie country park for families and children.
We were offering Treasure Hunts and Make a Bug. The children produced some amazing creatures and collected lots of natural treasures from the park.
We were delighted to meet all sorts of people including the Provost and 3 MSPs, Colin Beattie, Christine Grahame and Jeremy Balfour. It was a great opportunity to tell them about our work in Midlothian.
Nursery staff ran 100k to fundraise for us
We were delighted and astonished to be presented with a cheque for £1415 by the staff of Cranley Nurseries.
Sixteen nursery staff ran a hundred K between them at the Edinburgh Marathon. They were sponsored by the staff and parents of the four Cranley Nurseries in Edinburgh. The nursery parents were inspired by hearing about Home Link and really related to the work that we do with families whose children are the same age as their own.
Karen Murray, Manager of Cranley Nurseries who ran 10k, said: ‘It was a lot of training for the nursery staff, on top of an already demanding job, but it was worth it for the sense of achievement and to help this really amazing charity that make such a difference in families lives’.
Paula Swanston, Home link Family Support’s manager said : ‘The money will help us to make sure that families will get a volunteer who will encourage them, listen to them and help the whole family get involved in learning and play’.
Meet our latest volunteers
Our newly trained volunteers are all ready to be matched up with families in Midlothian. They’ll be doing lots of rhyming and reading with the children and being supportive listeners to the parents.
They were a terrific group in training and we look forward to hearing about the differences they’ll be making with familiies
Volunteer’s Week was a great success
We are just coming to the end of a terrific national Volunteers’ Week – awards, sunshine and a lovely Barbecue.
We were delighted when an astounded Adele McGowan was awarded Volunteer of the Year at the splendid Midlothian Volunteer Award ceremony at Newbattle Abbey College. It was well deserved – Adele has supported an amazing 11 families for us since 2010. She is now moving into work and we’ll miss her but we wish her all the very best.
Our Barbecue was threatened by rumbling thunder but somehow it stayed warm and sunny and it was lovely to see so many volunteers, old and new and their children.
Adele wins Midlothian Volunteer of the Year !
We are absolutely delighted that Adele McGowan was awarded Midlothian Volunteer of the Year at a splendid ceremony organised by Volunteer Centre Midlothian. Owen Thompson MP presented her with the award and Adele said ‘I can’t believe it’s me. I’ve got so much out of befriending with Home Link Family Support, it’s been great.’
Since 2010 Adele has been matched with 11 families, often taking on 2 families at the same time. She is a great listener and understands exactly what the families need from a befriender. Adele also gets along great with the kids and helps parents with practical parenting support, Big Bedtime read and Bookbug and crafts She is always willing to help out with training, and group work. She will be a massive loss to us as she leaves for permanent work – we wish her all the best
Fundraising Marathon
Twenty amazing staff from Cranley Nurseries are running Marathons to fundraise for Home Link Family Support. on 28th May. Cranley Nurseries say:
“‘Our staff take a real pride in every aspect of their jobs, which includes life within the community.
20 of our staff have committed to run/walk the 5k and 10k at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. Motivated and determined to raise as much funds as possible for Home Link Family Support who help families whose children are the same ages as those we work with.
We are a small group of 4 award winning children’s nurseries based in South Edinburgh. Our staff are genuinely committed to providing the best possible childcare facilities and support to help children achieve their true potential.”
Please cheer them on with some sponsorship click here