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Government: what is family life like? Your chance to tell politicians

Let our voice be heard!

Home-Start, in partnership with 4Children, is running a survey into family life in 21st Century Britain . It explores the real challenges facing families today, and how parents think they can get the best support.

The survey has been specially customised for Home-Start. It is our chance to get the voice of families connected with us heard –families we support, families of volunteers, and staff families. It is part of the wider Family Commission research, but Home-Start has been singled out for the breadth and depth of our families' views.

We want to influence how services are developed in this time of economic uncertainty. So let's get the views of as many families as possible. Home-Start and 4Children want to consult with 10,000 families before the end of this summer.

The survey is anonymous and shouldn't take more than five minutes to complete.

The online survey can be found at: http://www.thefamilycommission.org.uk/home-start-survey/

For further information on the Family Commission, please visit the Family Commission website.

Please support our 1/2 marathon running volunteer Sally!

Hello - I'm taking part in the Run to the Beat Half Marathon 2010 on 26/09/2010 to raise money for Home-Start Milton Keynes and the national Home-Start too and I'd really appreciate your support.

It's easy to donate online with a credit or debit card - just go to my JustGiving page:

http://www.justgiving.com/sally-siddique

JustGiving sends your donation straight to Home-Start and automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you're a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more. I hope you'll join me in supporting Home-Start.

Thank you - Sally

If you want to run too (there are still some places) or take on a different challenge to support Home-Start - please follow this link to contact Bobby Youngwood http://www.home-start.org.uk/supportingus/Fundraise/challenges

Fundraising Launch!

We are delighted to launch our fundraising appeal £2010 for 2010. Our aim is to secure the support of a handful of companies or individuals who are willing to raise £2010 for us this year. We hope that this is a realistic amount to raise and would like to encourage supporters to consider payroll giving or nominating Home-Start Milton Keynes as a beneficiary from an event. Click here for ideas.

The families we support may be one of your friends, relations or employees (we offer a confidential service so people often prefer not to reveal their situation). Between April 2009 and March 2010, we received 172 referrals and have recently found that we are a victim of our own success as we have regretably had to turn desperate families away due to overwhelming demand.

Without additional funding, the valuable service we offer may have to be reduced. Please contact us if you would like to learn more.

Families Have Fun on the Farm!

Fun and laughter was the order of the day at Mead Open Farm on Wednesday 7 July as 35 Home-Start families, plus volunteers and staff enjoyed the activities on offer at the local attraction. Approximately 60 adults and over 50 children enjoyed meeting the animals, tractor rides and cheering on their chosen steed in the Sheep Derby race. Everyone was glad to sit down for a well earned rest and to enjoy their picnic lunch and a natter. Click here to read comments about the day.

Please contact us if you are interested in helping us financially towards future family outings or parties. These events are a vital part of our support and much appreciated by the families as they are often beyond the budgetary restraints of day to day living.

Referrals Continue to Rise

Our latest statistics show that demand on our services are continuing to rise with a 34% increase on the first three months of the year. Between 1 April 2010 and 30 June 2010 we received 63 referrals compared to 47 in the same period last year.

We have already supported 96 families in the first quarter of the year, indicating a final outcome for the year that will be a significantly increase on our record numbers for 2009/2010 (when we supported 164 families over a twelve month period).

Our latest preparation course has just finished and we currently have 75 trained volunteers.

Volunteer Training Dates

Applications need to be received 2 months in advance in order for us to meet you and start the CRB checks process rolling.

Next Course : January 2011 - Our next course will run in January for one day per week from 9.30am to 2.30pm term time only (further details are yet to be confirmed). Click here to download forms if you are interested in attending.

Home-Start in Milton Keynes

Our Vision: "Befriending families in Milton Keynes – supporting parents to give their children a safe, healthy and happy start in life"

Home-Start Milton Keynes supports families who are finding it difficult to cope with the stresses of bringing up a young family. Trained volunteers, who are parents themselves, visit and support families in their own homes. They offer time, friendship and help with the everyday difficulties that parents with young children face. The support is available to a parent or carer with at least one child under 5, provided they meet the required criteria.

Home-Start Milton Keynes, based in Central Milton Keynes, was opened in 1996.

For further information, please telephone us on 01908 230030 or email us on office@home-startmk.org.uk

Can you help us?

Do You Shop Online?

If like many of us you do your shopping online, please have a look at a great website: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/homestartmk

By selecting 'Home-Start Milton Keynes' as your nominated charity you can support us for FREE when shopping online. By shopping at retailers such as Amazon, Argos, Play.com, Next and many more online you can help Home-Start at no cost to yourself - it only takes an extra click or two! Please help make a difference to families in Milton Keynes.

We Need Your skills! Have you got what it takes to be a Trustee/Director?

If you are interested, please e-mail or call us on 01908 230030 for more details of particular skills we are looking for. We look forward to hearing from you.

There is lots of information on the Charity Commission's website for Trustees.

Our First Long-Term Local Partnership

We are delighted to confirm our support from local company Junagarh Media, a supplier of beautiful photographs, cards, T-shirts and other fabulous goodies. Please take a look at the website (www.junagarhmedia.co.uk) and when ordering add the code HMK in the appropriate box. Home-Start will benefit from a donation of 30% from every purchase made (not including postage).

And...

Listen to us!

Home-Start featured on BBC 3 Counties Radio in October 2009 - click here to listen to the interview with Steph Ellis, Senior Co-ordinator and one of our families who was brilliant so early in the morning!

Watch us!

Home-Start featured on the BBC Lifeline monthly television charity appeal programme in July 2008. Click here to view this ten minute programme online - you will need to scroll down to July 2008 to locate the correct link.

Stephanie, our Senior Co-ordinator, was also interviewed (July 2010) for one of the BBC news programmes. You can view the clip from this below.

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Our Supporters

Click here to see the organisations that currently support us.

Useful Links

Links to other websites:

Download Adobe Reader for viewing PDF documents	Click here for more information on Milton Keynes.	Sponsored by MK Cows

National Patron: HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, GCVO
Home-Start Milton Keynes, a company limited by guarantee,
registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: 375 Acorn House, Milton Keynes, MK9 3HP.
Registered No: 5659490, Charity No: 1118249

telephone: 01908 230030 email: office@home-startmk.org.uk
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