A Cambridgeshire charity that supports families through tough times is urgently looking for more volunteers to help with their vital work across the county.

Home-Start Cambridgeshire has seen a steep rise in demand for their services since the Covid-19 pandemic.

It currently has a waiting list of families struggling with issues including isolation, loneliness, mental ill health, financial worries, disabilities and bereavement.

The charity is looking for people across Cambridgeshire who can spare as little as two hours a week to help deliver emotional and practical support to families with young children.

“It’s just two hours a week but volunteers can make such a difference to families,” said Home-Start Cambridgeshire senior coordinator Emma Sadler.

One person who knows the difference a Home-Start volunteer can make is a mum from Huntingdonshire called Karen.

Karen moved to the area from London before the pandemic and didn’t have any family close by when she became pregnant with her second baby during lockdown.

She faced lots of complications during her pregnancy and suffered with post-natal depression after her baby was born.

Her husband was a keyworker and worked long shifts, which made her feel even more isolated.

Karen was matched with a Home-Start volunteer called Dorne, who came to her house every week for two hours to help look after the children so that Karen could get on with jobs around the house, or to have some much-needed time to herself.

“It really helped me to have another adult human being to talk to and have coffee with,” said Karen.

“I felt comfortable with Dorne straight away. I knew I could also go and fold up my washing without the kids pulling it all over the floor,

“It was amazing just having a volunteer like Dorne to help – the children loved her too.”

The experience was equally positive for Dorne, a former early year’s teacher, who signed up as a Home-Start volunteer when she found she had some spare time on her hands after her retirement.

Karen’s family was the first one she was matched with.

“I just did whatever happened to be the most important thing that day, I was led by her,” said Dorne.

“She’s a lovely person and it was a privilege to spend time with her. It was hard saying goodbye at the end.”

If you’re interested in finding out more about becoming a volunteer for Home-Start Cambridgeshire, email office@homestartcambridgeshire.co.uk or call 01480 700242.