About Home Start Meon Valley
In response to a need identified by Health Visitors working in the area and made possible by a grant from the Community Fund, Home-Start Meon Valley was established at the beginning of 1998, and is based in Wickham Community Centre.The Scheme covers the many rural communities in the southern parishes of Winchester. These can be found around the Meon Valley, which is situated in middle of the triangle formed by the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth. Two of those parishes (Wickham and Shedfield) have been highlighted as areas of disadvantage.
"Home-Start Meon Valley adapts to the changing and increasing needs of the local families; it functions through the dedication, professionalism and commitment of people who care about others."
The co-ordinators, managed by Tracy Micklethwaite, maintain a team of volunteers providing this much-needed support and befriending service to families with at least one child under the age of five years. Each volunteer is asked to visit one or two families, once or twice a week for a couple of hours each time.
To complement the home-visiting service a Family Drop-In Group has been set up for families to meet together for moral support.
The Scheme is managed by a Trustee Board of representatives from local statutory and voluntary agencies, representatives of the volunteers, and independent members.
Home-Start Meon Valley employs part-time co-ordinators and a part-time Secretary to run the scheme and works with approximately 30-35 volunteers, supporting up to 35 families at any one time. It is funded jointly by Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council and a multitude of other grants and donations, and is an independent registered incorporated charity, No.1108953
Our local Patron is The Honorable Mrs Virginia Lovell.