Corby Home-Start volunteers coming together to boost support for families in time of coronavirus crisis

A charity and a team of dedicated local volunteers are providing a lifeline to families in Corby as people get to grips with challenges caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Thanks to a team of 45 volunteers, Home-Start Corby has been able to step up to support more than 60 families during the period of social distancing.

Personalised care packages are being put together and delivered, with each one tailored to every family including Easter eggs, frisbees, inflatable footballs, connections to debt relief services, and a gift unique to each child based on what their interests are.

Maggie McKay, senior organiser at Home-Start Corby, said: “We’re playing an important role in helping families to cope in the best possible way during these difficult times. We’re

trying to think positive and doing all we can to reassure families.

"To prevent crisis, we’re working closely with other local organisations, like food banks, to ensure essentials are reaching families who most need them.

“Our team of volunteers have been fantastic and we’re making sure their mental health is cared for as well.

"They have been vital in helping to reduce anxiety, and seeking feedback from families on what we’re providing and finding out what they need from us.

"We’re hoping to hold family quiz nights soon to bring some fun to people’s homes.”

Volunteers are also keeping in touch with families over the phone and Skype, where they catch up on how they’re doing and sing nursery rhymes with the children.

The volunteers have paired up as ‘buddies’ so they can support each other through these difficult times having regular catch-ups over Skype and have been sharing their hobbies with each other such as knitting.

The charity has also provided them with online training to help broaden their skills.

Home-Start Corby was awarded almost £400,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund – the largest funder of community activity in the UK - in 2017 to support families to

overcome challenges in their lives such as debt and social isolation.

Nicola Thurbon, senior head of funding for the Midlands at the National Lottery Community Fund, said: “In this time of crisis it’s heartening to see the way communities are coming together to provide each other with support.

"The charities and voluntary sector organisations we fund, like Home-Start Corby and their volunteers, are playing a vital role in their community.

"We are incredibly grateful for their efforts and are doing everything we can to make it easy for them to adapt to the difficult circumstances we are all finding ourselves in.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes.

Last year it awarded £1.4 million a day on average to projects that help people and communities thrive. Ninety per cent of the grants it makes are for under £10,000 – going to

grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk

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