Although Home Start Herefordshire, which provides crucial support to families in Herefordshire who are experiencing hard times, has had to stop offering face-to-face support, it is continuing to support families via telephone calls, text messaging, emails and video calls.

Normally much of this support is done via home visits from volunteers trained to give reassurance, encouragement and support to families. And families really value both the volunteers and HSH, for example describing volunteers with words like “inspirational” and “amazing” and the service as “a really positive experience”.

"The dedication and passion of the volunteers to continue supporting families during the Covid-19 outbreak is inspiring and amazing to us as an organisation," says Scheme Manager Mandie Preece. "We are so proud of our volunteers, they don’t want to let their families down. With support and back up by the staff (all self-distancing in the office or socially isolating at home) HSH will continue to provide assistance to all that require it. And please check out our website and social media accounts where we are regularly posting fun activities, coping strategies and other information for parents/carers and their families to help cope in these stressful times.

"The current message from HSH is for people to social distance themselves from others, listen to the Government's advice and stay safe. These are unprecedented times and we must protect our loved ones."