A WYRE Forest family support charity has secured funding to pilot an intensive service for families whose child has additional developmental needs.

Home-Start Wyre Forest, based in New Road, Kidderminster, received a grant of £7,278 from the Making it Happen fund.

The fund has been given on behalf of the Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) by the district council, to enable Home-Start’s new scheme to work with five families in a six month period.

The project is being carried out in partnership with the local Health Visiting Team, who will refer families for support.

Belinda Darby, Home-Start manager, said: “We are so excited about this project which will see a group of our more experienced volunteers offer intensive, frequent visits to families using the Home-Start model of support.

“The project will focus on families with a 0 to 2-year-old to provide parents with the confidence and tools to effectively support their child`s developmental needs in this foundation stage.

“This will mean all future development will have a real, long-lasting impact.”

A project volunteer will visit families three times-a-week over a two month period, enabling parents to gain confidence in engaging in activities which support their child`s development, leading to improved family relationships.

Kate Bailey, of Wyre Forest District Council, said: “This project will help address the health and wellbeing needs of young children and get them off to a good start.

“It is a priority of the Strategic Health and Inequalities Partnership this year to help this age group, so we were very keen to support the project.”

The project will run alongside Home-Start’s classic support which offers weekly befriending to families with a child under 5-years-old.

For more information about Home-Start Wyre Forest, or becoming a volunteer, call 01562 825896 or visit homestartwyreforest.org.uk