A HELPING HAND for young families by Tracyann Wheeler
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Do you ever feel….. • Isolated in your community
• Suffering with a post-natal illness
• Having a hard time coping with a child’s illness
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• Struggling with the emotional and physical demands of parenting
ach new posting is a chance to start over. Often this means being placed further away from our own families.
As most stations are in the heart of rural countryside, families can find themselves isolated with little to no connection to their new surroundings and the wider community. Add in the pleasures and pains of a growing family, it can be a daunting time for any military household.
This was the experience of Jenny, who was posted to RAF Marham, Norfolk in late 2013 following her husband Anthony's promotion. As the family settled into life in Norfolk Anthony came home with news of a deployment. He would be going to the Falklands for four months. Jenny began to worry how she would cope as a Mum to three boys, James (8), Henry (4) and Luke (18) months while Anthony was on detachment. More worryingly Henry had begun to display some challenging behaviour that both Jenny and Anthony were having problems addressing.
Unsure of who to talk to, Jenny confided in her Health Visitor, who recommended Home-Start. Home-Start is a unique charity and befriending service, offering support and guidance when families need it most. Raising a family is an overwhelming task, without the extra worries experienced by Service families.
Following an initial visit by a Home-Start Coordinator, to talk through what help could be offered and what would work best for Jenny, she was matched to volunteer Gwen. A Home-Start volunteer, mother and
www.raf-ff.org.uk
grandmother with the empathy that Jenny needed most. Gwen supported the family for two hours a week on the run up to, and during Anthony’s deployment.
The support Gwen gave was not limited to assisting Jenny in managing Henry’s behaviour, but helping her access the local children’s centre. This gave Jenny chance to meet other Mums and for Luke to play with other toddlers. And even the odd day out to Wells-next-the-Sea for an ice-cream!
Even though the support was tailored for Jenny and the boys. Anthony voiced how happy he was that Jenny would have a shoulder to lean on while the family were separated for this period of time. With no family close by, both Jenny and Anthony felt that the support of a Home-Start volunteer was just what the family needed.
Fancy volunteering? If you feel you could offer two hours a week to support a family like Jenny and Anthony’s, please contact your local Home-Start. Each scheme is an independently registered charity, set up and run by people from the local area.
Home-Start Swaffham & District are proud to support RAF Families.
Further information: Contact Tracyann (Senior Coordinator, Home- Start Swaffham and District) on the team’s website,
www.homestartswaffham.co.uk or email
admin@homestartswaffham.org.uk
Facebook – Home-Start Swaffham & District
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• Struggling to cope with your own physical or mental health
• Overwhelmed by the death of a loved one
• You need help with practical things like healthy eating and budgeting
• You’d like to know what’s available in the local area but don’t have the confidence
If you can say yes to any of the above and have a least one child under the age of 5. Home-Start could be the missing link for you and your family. Home-Start also supports service families in Germany and Cyprus.
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