The Youth Commission for Guernsey and Alderney
Supporting the Bailiwick's Young People
HOME-START
A child’s early years are critical to their future.
We help families in Guernsey give their children the best start in life.
Home-Start support helps:
REDUCE FAMILY ISOLATION AND INCREASE SOCIAL NETWORKS
STRENGTHEN PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS
IMPROVE PARENTS' PHYSICAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
DEVELOP AND IMPROVE PARENTING SKILL
IMPROVE THE HOME ENVIRONMENT
IMPROVE CHILDREN'S HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND DEVELOPMENT
INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
FAMILY SUPPORT
Every year, in hundreds of local communities across the UK, Home-Start helps thousands of families who are struggling to cope.
Parent volunteers offer support and friendship to other parents through home visiting, via family and specialist groups and through social events.
FAMILIES NEED SUPPORT FOR MANY REASONS
Struggling to cope with postnatal illness - A child's disability - Family breakdown or bereavement
Multiple problems at once - Feeling isolated or unable to connect with friends or the community
SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED
A volunteer with parenting experience who offers regular, tailor-made, one-to-one, home visiting support: usually on a weekly basis.
Emotional support to help parents find ways to manage and resolve problems.
Direct support to children, including playing, listening, having fun, establishing routines, encouraging development, and providing opportunities for outings and treats.
Practical help, perhaps with budgeting, nutrition, and meal planning, cooking, and making the home safe.
Outreach and family group work so parents can get out and meet others and become more involved in their own community.
Information and links to other organisations including health, mental health, and educational services.
Attendance and meetings and moral support, especially when dealing with case conferences, solicitors, or court cases.
-Access to parenting advice and parenting skills training
DRAGONFLIES
WHAT IS DRAGONFLIES?
Dragonflies is a family group drop-in for parents and carers with pre-school children. We are run by Home-start Guernsey and have a dedicated play leader.
Our emphasis is on creating a warm, welcoming, inclusive environment that encourages and supports parents and carers to interact with and aid their child’s learning and development.
The group provides a supportive environment to parents who have at least one child under five.
The group offers parents and carers the chance to make new friends and to build an informal support network.
WHO CAN ATTEND?
Parents, relatives or family friends who care for pre-school children.
WHAT IS THE COST?
There is no charge for the drop-in.
DO I NEED TO BOOK?
No booking required just turn up at any time throughout the morning. We do have a register to complete each time you attend.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SARAH GROVES FOUNDATION
Every Tuesday: 9.30am - 11.00am
@ Wesley Methodist Church, Le Grand Bouet, St Peter Port
Every Thursday: 9.30am - 11.00am
@ Les Camps Methodist Church Hall, Grande Rue, St Martins
Every Friday: 9.30am - 11.00am
@ Styx, Rue De Longfrie, St Pierre Du Bois
WHAT'S INCLUDED
We have a large supply of toys for the children to play with and they have the chance to interact with others.
An outdoor area for play.
General activities are always available including arts and crafts.
Story and rhyme time.
Snack time.
With the support of Guille Allez Library we also have library books that can be taken home.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE OFFER?
STORY STACKS
We have a number of different family sacks that we are able to lend out to families.
Our Story sacks help:
Promote play and interaction between parents and children
Introduce them to a love of books
Encourage early literacy skills
They are also educational and touch on different aspects of life including emotions, feelings, diversity and bereavement.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
HOW HAVE WE HELPED IN THE PAST?
Helped families with budgeting, benefits, debt problems, money saving tips from budgeting with food to cheap craft activities.
Assisted with the purchase of mobility equipment and other needed items for example bunk beds and stair gates etc.
Helped getting funding for children to attend play scheme and playschools.
At Christmas, provided families with hampers.
Nominated families for Tree of Joy.
Helped families get free entry to museums for events.
Provided families with a free Island mums discount card.
Supported families also get free entry to our Easter egg hunt.
Held a Christmas party where all children are given a present.