Confidence through kindness and support
£5,000 has been awarded to Home-Start Clackmannanshire to provide support and confidence to local families, from the EDF Burnfoot Hill Wind Farm Community Fund.
The EDF Burnfoot Hill Wind Farm Community Fund in Clackmannanshire provides grants to community organisations that provide activities benefitting the local area. The fund serves the community council areas of Alva, Dollar, Menstrie, Muckhart and Tillicoultry, Coalsnaughton & Devonside – collectively known as the Hillfoots villages.
In 2023, the Clackmannanshire sub-fund awarded £5,000 to Home-Start Clackmannanshire to support two weekly groups: an early years group at the Ben Cleuch Centre in Tillicoultry and a Mental Health and Wellbeing group at the Dumyat Centre in Menstrie. These two-hour sessions provide safe spaces for parents and children to connect, learn and grow together.
The funding supported essential running costs including venue hire, staff salaries, transport, materials and refreshments. Over 24 weeks, nearly 90 parents and children attended the Hillfoots support groups. Participants also enjoyed various day trips and, where needed, accessed practical support such as food parcels and community shop memberships.
One family's story particularly demonstrates the project's impact. A mother, initially referred by her health visitor due to low mood and isolation, received volunteer support and joined the early years groups. Through regular engagement, her confidence grew substantially, especially regarding child weaning and social interaction. She progressed from being hesitant to participate to becoming a peer supporter for new members, and ultimately volunteered with the organisation herself – showcasing the transformative power of community-based support.
As one parent reflected:
Home-Start has transformed our outlook and gave us belief in human kindness again.
Home-Start has been helping families build confidence and independence through practical and emotional support since 1988. As part of a network of over 200 Home-Start organisations across the UK, the organisation focuses on supporting families who struggle with community engagement, school or nursery participation or lack peer support.
Home Start’s approach combines one-to-one home visits, where volunteers help families with daily activities, with support group meetings that encourage parents to build confidence and bond with their children through play.