As summer comes to an end, we’re looking back on another busy and meaningful month at Home-Start Camden & Islington. From bringing families together, welcoming new partnerships and creating more opportunities for wellbeing, creativity and connection, we continue to be inspired by the families, volunteers and supporters who make our work possible.
What happened in August?
Our Annual Family Picnic
On 19th August, more than 40 families joined us for our annual picnic at Hampstead Heath. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to spend time together outdoors, meet other families and enjoy a relaxed day as part of the Home-Start community. A special thank you to the amazing volunteers and corporates who supported us, including Leiho who made lovely paintings with the children!
In August, we donated food in an area identified by HAF as having some of the highest levels of families living below the poverty line. The delivery provided 35 bags of food, including essentials such as pasta, rice, beans, and other family favourites.
The feedback from families showed just how important this support is:
“The food is always varied and we get more choice, it’s like a supermarket.”
“Without this support I don’t think I’d be able to pay my electricity bill this week.”
“It’s always a comfort to know this place is here when I really need it.”
One parent who visited for the first time became emotional as she left, saying she didn’t expect to receive so much food and so much choice, and that she would be able to feed her family that week without worrying.
Thank you to everyone who helps us provide this vital support to local families and a special thank you to the Caring Family Foundation and our amazing volunteer Katerina.
A Huge Thank You
We would also like to say a very special thank you to Devonshire House School, NW3 6AE, for their incredibly generous £3,000 donation to our charity. We are also hugely grateful to the amazing volunteer who nominated Home-Start and helped make this donation possible.
This generous support will help us continue to be there for local families, providing practical and emotional support, helping parents feel less alone and creating opportunities for children and families to connect, grow and thrive.
A New Book Nook for our Families
We’re excited to have a new Book Nook in our charity, created as part of our commitment to encouraging children and families to enjoy reading. Reading for pleasure can have a positive impact on children’s lives, helping to support their imagination, language, confidence and wellbeing.
The Book Nook gives families an opportunity to discover and enjoy books together in a welcoming space.
We are also supporting Raising Readers Day, a campaign from Hachette highlighting the decline in children reading for fun and encouraging everyone to make reading for enjoyment part of children’s everyday lives.
We’d love families to make use of our Book Nook and share their favourite childhood reading memories with us.
“A child who reads will be a child who dreams.”
Coming this September
Online Wellbeing Sessions
From September, Anna will be starting weekly 30-minute breathing and gentle stretching sessions online via Zoom. These sessions will offer a calm moment during the week to pause, relax and focus on wellbeing.
The start date will be confirmed soon.
If you would like to register your interest, please contact Anna at anna@homestartcamden.org.
The Winch Parenting Course
The Winch Parenting Course will be returning in September. This is a 10-week programme designed to support parents with crèche support available. It provides a welcoming space for parents to learn, share experiences and build confidence.
For more information, please contact Natasha at natasha@homestartcamden.org.
Creative Classes
We are excited to be starting another collaboration with the Foundling Museum, giving families the opportunity to take part in a creative and wellbeing programme this autumn.
The sessions will explore themes including motherhood, patterns, creativity and wellbeing, with families creating a range of handmade pieces including soaps, candles, beads and textiles.
The programme begins in September and continues through November.
If you would like to take part please contact us at info@homestartcamden.org
Come and See Us in the Community
We will be taking part in two local community events in September and would love for you to join us.
Dartmouth Park – York Rise Street Party
Saturday 5th September | 12pm–6pm | We are actively looking for raffle prizes so please contact Eleni at eleni@homestartcamden.org for more information.
Kentish Town – Lady Somerset Road Street Party
Sunday 13th September | 12pm–5pm | For more information about how to support us please email us at info@homestartcamden.org
Looking Ahead
September is already shaping up to be another exciting month, we are proud of what we can achieve together. Whether you volunteer your time, donate, attend an activity, recommend Home-Start to a family or simply help us spread the word, you are part of what makes our community stronger.
Thank you for continuing to support Home-Start Camden & Islington and the families we work alongside.
We look forward to sharing more with you next month.