A FRESH cohort of kind-hearted volunteers is preparing to get to work with families across Oxford on behalf of a Blackbird Leys charity.

Home-Start Oxford, based in Blackbird Leys Community Centre, offers a lifeline to parents of young children who need a little extra support.

Last Monday six Oxford residents, all with children of their own, received their certificates from city councillor Linda Smith after an eight-week training programme.

Ms Smith said: "I was so pleased to be able to present the newly qualified Homestart volunteers with their certificates.

"I also took the opportunity to thank them for the commitment they were making to the charity and the local community, and I wished them the best of luck for the invaluable work they will be taking on providing support to new parents who are finding it hard to cope with the sometimes overwhelming demands of a new baby.

"Home-Start is a fantastic charity, doing vital work in the city and I'm so pleased to have them based on the Leys."

In recent months Home-Start, which works with 50 to 70 families a year, has reported a rise in demand for its services.

Each of the volunteers will visit a family in Oxford once a week for two to three hours.

Kerry Centre, family co-ordinator at Home-Start, said: "We support families with a whole range of needs.

"It can be around isolation, and families new to the area who haven't got the social network or confidence to access services for them and their children.

"We spend time with mums who need a cup of tea because they don't get to see a grown-up all day."

The training course was run in partnership with Peeple, a UK-wide charity currently preparing to set up a nursery at The Oxford Academy in Sandy Lane West, Littlemore.

It included confidentiality, child safety, positive parenting, play and activities as well as preparation for home visits.

Miss Centre added: "We also do play and activities; we try to get parents to understand how important the home learning environment is.

"Sometimes a piece of paper and a crayon is fascinating. Buckets of water in the garden and painting fences, for a two-year-old, is amazing and doesn't have to cost anything."

Among the volunteers preparing to begin visiting families across Oxford is Sabeena Rana, from Marston.

The mother-of-three, whose own children are now 16, 19 and 20, said: "I've done work with other charities and someone told me about Home-Start.

"I want to help families struggling with everyday life with their young children; if there's mental health issues or domestic violence, I will help them.

"The training was amazing. The staff were so friendly and helpful. There's no communication gap; they are always there for new volunteers."

Home-Start is now gearing up for its second recruitment drive of the year, with training set to begin in September.

Anyone interested in finding out more should email 01865 779991.