I’m a single mom to little boy named Leo. I was referred from my domestic abuse officer to Home-Start last year. I battle with anxiety and PTSD and agoraphobia. Since Home- Start has been involved in my life they helped me to fight against my mental health. In many ways they will never truly understand how they saved me. I was gifted an angel in the darkest moment in my life and that is my volunteer Carole. When I got away from the domestic abuse I was very alone and isolated battling with the pain that I went through and raising my son and trying hard so my son would have the best version of me. We became isolated and I blamed myself a lot. Like a lot of moms I always question in hard times whether we are good as moms and are we doing our best. Since having Home-Start in my life and having the support of one of their volunteers she has giving me peace and helped me to slowly help and make me feel worthy of being a mom again. They helped me emotionally and been there to reassure me of any of my doubts about being the mom I am to my son. My son was very nervous in the beginning and struggled to connect with people he didn’t know. My volunteer helped him to trust again in people. Carole helped with doing playtime with him and reading with him this helped him to come out of his shell more and start to trust again. This meant I could put him in to nursery because he has come on leaps and bounds. Yes, Home-Start is about what’s best for the kids but they do more than that. They taught me how to trust and faith again. Just having that interaction once, a week has helped me to be happier for my son. Yes, there still more work progress to be made with my mental health. but without having that help from such amazing team and support I really couldn’t say where I’d be right now. I’m truly grateful for their care and support and treating me with compassion and care with no judgment. And I hope that one day I can return the favour to give back. Thank you Home Start
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