A CHARITY has received a generous donation from Barclays as part of its initiative to support 250 UK charities who are making an impact on those who have been affected most by the pandemic.

Home-Start Host. which supports families across Bolton, Oldham, Stockport and Tameside, has received a £100,000 donation which will help families who are struggling with life after the pandemic.

In 2020-21, Home-Start supported more than 3,000 families and nearly 3,400 children.

Home visits had to be altered but digital and telephone emotional support were still offered to struggling families until the end of lockdown, when weekly volunteer visits restarted.

The funds from Barclays 100 x 100 Programme will help to cover the core work of Home-Start in Bolton and elsewhere as they continue to support families as they deal with the impact of Covid-19.

Sarah Cook, Host chief executive, said: “Being awarded this £100,000 from Barclays is fantastic, because it means we can invest even more into much-needed family support.”

One mum who has received support added: “The calls from Home-Start and now the home visits have really helped me with my anxiety and my mental health.

"I have also been able to get out of the house more thanks to Home-Start and my volunteer.”

There will be a particular focus on supporting parents who have had a baby in lockdown, parents who may be suffering from poor mental health and families living in poverty.

Parents will be supported in order to help reduce their isolation and loneliness, whilst children will be provided with opportunities to meet other children and to have fun new experiences with their parents, helping them with their learning and development which may have been affected as a result of the isolation brought about by lockdown.