Who we are
Home-Start Antrim District is a local charity committed to providing compassionate & confidential support to parents with children under 5
How it all began!
In October of 1990 a lady called Margaret Thompson opened the doors of Home-Start Antrim District for the very first time.
Seeking to recruit and train parents to support families facing a wide range of issues, she began this pioneer work with a very small team of volunteers.
Home-Start Antrim's very first volunteer Eileen Emerson recalls
"In November 1990 I saw an advert in the Antrim Guardian, my boys had started school and I had time on my hands. I attended a volunteer preparation course in the community House in Greystone and I've been with Home-Start ever since. In the early days I supported two families with disabled children and I loved it. The family group began 6 months later, and I have been helping out ever since. I will stay a volunteer until I can't do it anymore."
For over 30 years many families in our community have received one-to-one and group support. Since then, our team of volunteers has grown and has continuously served the community with kindness. Eileen is still one of them.
Meet the team
Sharon Caldwell
Scheme Manager
Colette Emery
Administrator
Margaret Brennan
Baby Bank Co-ordinator
We have a passionate and committed staff team who work alongside and support our volunteers and trustees.
Find out how to volunteer todayWhat we do
Parenting can be overwhelming and isolating for many. Our parent volunteers support families with children under 5 in three ways:
1. Home Support
There for parents when they need us most!
At the very heart of all we do is our home visiting volunteer support. Our volunteers visit or meet with families every week to support parents in whatever way they need.
Our volunteers understand how hard it can be and the compassionate support they provide can be a lifeline for many. Volunteers work alongside parents to help them cope with the stresses and strains of life, to build confidence and encourage the strength and skills they need to nurture their children.
------ Together for families
2. Weekly Family Group
- Befriending and supporting parents in a group setting.
- Strengthening parent & child relationships
- Promoting healthy child development
- Building community
Our weekly group provides a place for parents to meet others and allow their children to play with others and grow. Our team of group volunteers befriend parents, provide activities that seek to strengthen parent child relationships and promote healthy child development.
Group provides a valuable sense of community and belonging, friendships are built and positive memories made. In addition to this we offer relevant workshops and small short term groups throughout the year.
3. Antrim Baby Bank
- Relieving poverty
- Redistributing valuable resources
- Reducing parental stress
This unexpected project grew out of the needs experienced by families during the pandemic of 2020-2021. When so much of our usual support became difficult, responding to the practical needs of isolated parents was possible and made a positive impact! After many doorstep deliveries the Antrim Baby Bank began.
In our unit in the Castle Mall Shopping Centre Antrim, we receive quality donations of all baby resources ranging from toys & books, clothing up to the age of 5 to larger items such as highchairs, prams and cots.
Families receive help through referral or can request help themselves at one of our 3 weekly open sessions.
Open Sessions
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1pm - 3pm
Donations
Small donations can be dropped in collection bins outside the baby bank at any time.
Large donations must be made during our 3 open sessions.
- We cannot accept donations of food, electricals, or car seats due to insurance.
- We ask that you donate only items of the quality you would be happy to pass on to family.
In a time when the cost of living has increased so dramatically every week our team of Baby Bank volunteers offer practical support to parents in an atmosphere of compassion and kindness. This has become a valuable contact point for us as a scheme within the community and an opportunity for us to offer additional support and signpost to other local relevant services.
As this service has grown we have also been able to repurpose items to other Baby Banks in NI. We are now members of the Baby Bank Alliance working together to support similar projects across the UK.