THE number of families supported by Home-Start in Waverley has shown another big rise in the first six months of this year.

That’s according to new figures released during the charity’s annual meeting last Thursday.

This follows a growing trend from last year (March 2017 to March 2018), when the number of families supported by Home-Start increased by 33 per cent to 101 families with approximately 212 children.

The charity, which promotes welfare of families with at least one child under five years of age, also welcomed and trained an “all-time record” of new volunteers, according to chairman Alan Thompson.

He said: “It is an indicator of how much people want to support this kind of organisation by actually getting involved and doing the work, that’s great.

“Bringing on 31 new volunteers has a big effect and last year the number of families we support went up by 33 per cent to 101.

“Already at this halfway point of this year we are five per cent ahead, in terms of numbers of families, than for the whole of last year.

“It won’t double again in the final six months because not all the families start or new families are coming in, but it will be therefore, by definition, a lot higher than last year.”

Speaking to the Herald, Dawn Murphy, scheme manager for Home-Start in Waverley, described volunteers as the “backbone of the service”.

She said: “I can’t sing their praises enough. They’re so highly valued by families and make such a difference to the future of children. They do what the family needs.”

Home-Start in Waverley has been celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and events have included a murder mystery and vintage lunch.

Visit homestartwaverley.org.