A charity providing support for babies and new parents has relaunched its vital services.

Homestart, a charity which provides support and advice to parents with young children, is once again offering help to people in Bury.

Its team of staff and volunteers provide support for families in Bury with babies under two who experience low to moderate mental health difficulties, anxiety or are struggling with isolation.

The Rochdale-based organisation began offering Parent Infant Mental Health Referrals in January this year, with support being offered to parents in the borough with children from ‘bump to two-years-old.'

The charity provides parents with a listening ear and can help them tackle isolation by attending local baby groups, the park or even the supermarket. It can also help parents acces services in their area. 

Homestart supports parents with bonding and attachment, building strong relationships with their babies within the first 1001 critical days.

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Andrea Garmory, Parent and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Coordinator said the charity aims to provide ‘a friendly face’ for anyone struggling with early parenthood.

She said: “A lot of our volunteers have been supported by us in the past and we have training courses to help them."

Andrea says one of the biggest challenges she helps parents to deal with is anxiety and isolation.

She said: “A lot of mums are referred to us by a health representative, but they can do a self-referral, they need support with attachment or bonding.

“A lot of our parents feel judged going to baby groups.”

Andrea says she that some were still anxious about going out with their children following the pandemic.

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She said: “Mums are still really worried about keeping their babies safe and lots of parents say they don’t watch the news anymore.”

Now that the charity is providing services in the borough again, Andrea is on the lookout for volunteers who can help them deliver their services.

Volunteers will need to provide references and undergo a DBS check. The job asks people to commit to around one to two hours per week and be available for up to a year.

“It’s definitely something that’s needed in Bury,” Andrea added, “It’s something that people have been waiting for, there’s nothing else like it.”

Since the pandemic more and more families are suffering with isolation. Homestart are looking for new, local volunteers to join it's training course which starts in September. If you'd like to get involved get in touch with Andrea on andrea@hsrb.org.uk.