SPLAT the Cat joined the Mayor of Huntingdon, Councillor Jennifer Sarabia, for afternoon tea to mark the first year of a scheme which offers support to families. Home-Start held an afternoon party at the Medway Centre. Through a team of home-visiting volu

SPLAT the Cat joined the Mayor of Huntingdon, Councillor Jennifer Sarabia, for afternoon tea to mark the first year of a scheme which offers support to families.

Home-Start held an afternoon party at the Medway Centre.

Through a team of home-visiting volunteers, Home-Start offers regular support to families, who may be experiencing difficulties.

This could be due to isolation, loneliness, poverty, disability or illness.

The scheme is now looking for more volunteers and more businesses to sponsor their work. Splat is the mascot of the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society, which has paid for educational toys to be taken out to the families.

Caroline Germann, Scheme Co-ordinator, said "We are currently offering support to five families in the Huntingdon area and we will hope to help more over the next year.

"The families really benefit from this support. I would be happy to hear from anyone with relevant parenting experience, who is interested in becoming a Home-Start volunteer."

One of the home-visiting volunteers, Carol, said: "When my own children were very young, my parents lived nearby but these days that is often not the case. As a trained volunteer, I really enjoy visiting the family for two to three hours each week."

INFORMATION: Home-Start West Cambridgeshire is currently recruiting home-visiting volunteers for the next training course, starting on Tuesday, September 18. The scheme would also welcome enquiries from people with management skills who are interested in becoming trustees.

If you have half-a-day per week to spare and would like to hear more about volunteering with Home-Start, contact Caroline Germann on

01480 436300 or e-mail: caroline@homestartwestcambs.co.uk