Families charity Home-Start Wessex has launched a new appeal for help to support local parents who are silently battling overwhelming challenges behind closed doors. The striking visual campaign highlights the struggles many local families face, including dealing with mental health issues, grief, domestic abuse and the additional challenges of looking after a disabled child.
Home-Start Wessex offers friendship, practical support and emotional advice to parents in Dorset with at least one child under 5 when they are in crisis, providing specialist groups and one-to-one home visits. Of the 526 families supported by Home-Start Wessex last year, 523 were mums supported as the key parent, and more than half of those were single mums. When mothers are in crisis, their children are deeply affected, especially during the crucial first 1,001 days. Without support, the emotional and psychological impact can last a lifetime.
The charity is approaching local employers, asking them to put the hard-hitting posters up behind toilet doors. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of the charity and the people it supports, whilst also raising funds to help continue its vital work providing emotional support that improves mental health, builds resilience, brings joy to children and helps parents face their challenges.
Caroline Pope, Corporate Partnerships & Marketing Manager at Home-Start Wessex, said, “Many mums are under huge pressure to return to work after having their baby. They may be worried about their income or their career prospects. Yet they may still be physically and emotionally recovering from having a baby, as well as dealing with a huge mental load.
Women are often too good at carrying on even if they are not coping, covering up what they are really feeling and putting on a front for their employers, and even their friends and family. We want these parents to know that we are there for them, whatever their circumstances and whatever their situation.
At times, being a parent can feel like the hardest, loneliest job in the world. It can be frustrating, heartbreaking and overwhelming. All parents struggle at one time or another. However, for some, the challenges can be greater.
Our trained volunteers can offer support that’s geared towards each parent and their family. The support we give is totally non-judgmental; it’s simply compassionate, confidential and individual. We hope that local employers will support the campaign and take that extra step to support the health and wellbeing of their employees, as well as help us raise vital funds to continue our life-changing work.”
Over the last year, Home-Start Wessex has transformed 1,716 lives, helping a record 526 families, and the numbers continue to rise as more families reach out for help. Their reach covers the Purbecks, Swanage, Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport, the whole of the BCP Council area, including Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, across the borders of Hampshire and Wiltshire, going as far north as Cranborne and Fordingbridge and as far east as New Milton – a huge area with a population of over 650,000, including many pockets of high-level deprivation.
If you or your employer could support the Behind Closed Doors campaign, please contact [email protected]. Anyone can text PARENTS to 70470 to donate £5 today.
