Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, visited Stevenage Home-Start based in Bedwell Park to meet the staff and learn more about the work they do supporting local families with very young children. Home-Start volunteers make many visits to families at home, supporting parents and helping families through difficult times.

Stephen said, "There are many agencies providing help in specific areas, but sometimes families just need a friendly face from Home-Start who can help them navigate their way through the system. I spend a lot of my time helping local people make sense of local organisations who struggle when a family does not fit in their particular area of responsibility. This often results in some of the more vulnerable families being passed from agency to agency without receiving any real help. Unfortunately, the tragic case of Amelia Arnold is a stark reminder that people do slip through the cracks and if organisations like Home Start can help, then I am 100% behind them."

Stevenage Home-Start played a lead in setting up Home-Start Hertfordshire which now provides more flexibility to meet the needs of local families and facilities Home-Start's collaboration with other agencies.

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