TV star Debra Stephenson throws Home-Start a lifeline

Home-Start Knowsley will benefit from a BBC Lifeline appeal to be presented by Coronation Street and Bad girls star, Debra Stephenson on the 20th July on BBC1.

Home-Start Knowsley is one of a network of 340 local Home-Starts who will be sharing the proceeds of the appeal. Home-Start Knowsley has supported 157 families in the last year alone. Gillian McKinnon scheme manager for Home Start Knowsley, says “It’s great to get national recognition for our work and the money raised will be greatly appreciated as we are always looking for extra funds.”

Donations are always welcome and there are a number of ways to do this, using our website is just one, secure method www.homestartknowsley.org.uk

Lifeline is the BBC's monthly television charity appeal programme. For more than twenty years, Lifeline has helped raised money for and increased the profile of hundreds of charities across the UK and abroad. There have been over 250 appeals so far and almost £6m has been raised for charities.

Debra spent time talking to some of the families supported by Home-Start, she also went to the home of a father, who is bringing up his six children on his own after losing his wife last year, to see how his volunteer supports him at home.

Home-Start’s Lifeline appeal featured three families all accessing support for different reasons. Since the death of his wife, Billy has also been attending a Home-Start family support group and says without it, he would have sat at home feeling sorry for himself. Lynn, another parent supported by Home-Start, lost her sight when she was seventeen. With two small children to look after, Lynn says that having a Home-Start volunteer has given her the independence to do all of the activities she could do herself if she didn’t have a sight problem.

Two years ago Julie gave birth to identical quads. Raising four children can take its toll, Julie says that having four children can be quite isolating as she can’t do things that other parents take for granted. Having a Home-Start volunteer means that Julie can get out to the shops and the park with her children.  Home Start Knowsley needs more volunteers, please contact the Scheme on 0151 4803910 if you think you could spare some time to help a worthwhile cause.

Debra says: “Being a parent of two small children myself, I know how difficult it can sometimes be. Lots of parents struggle to cope, for many reasons and that’s where Home-Start steps in. It’s a great idea that is so effective, parents supporting other parents in their own homes. I’m really pleased to be presenting a Lifeline appeal for such a worthwhile charity.”    

Home-Start is the UK’s leading family support charity, recruiting and training volunteers to support parents with at least one child under the age of five. Our home visiting work is unique in the UK. Home-Start supports nearly 35,000 families and over 71,000 children each year.  Almost 16,000 volunteers visit families in their own homes – parents supporting other parents in a variety of situations including isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness or disability.