HOME-START Monmouthshire would not exist without its dedicated team of volunteers who between them have a wealth of knowledge and offer a great deal of support to families who are struggling to cope.

Home-Start recruits and trains parent volunteers who offer emotional and practical support to families with at least one child under five who are struggling to cope. This can be for a whole range of reasons, including: poverty, isolation, illness, lone parenting, multiple births and teenage parents. In fact Home-Start volunteers support any parents that are simply finding life a bit difficult.

Pam Lloyd, manager at Home-Start Monmouthshire said: "This is a really exciting time for us. We are now embarking on our 11th preparation course for volunteers and we are looking for people who have some parenting experience and who can commit to visiting a family a few hours a week. After eight weeks of training and preparing, our volunteers will be ready to be matched to a family. We offer all our volunteers on-going support so that they feel supported and valued.'

The search is now on for new volunteers who would like to train to become a home visitor and who can offer that friendship and support to a family in need. All expenses will be paid.

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, you are invited to join Home-start at its welcoming coffee morning tomorrow (5th March) at 10am in the ballroom at Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth.

After the initial meeting there will be a Home-start Monmouthshire volunteer preparation course which lasts for eight weeks each Thursday from 10am to 2.30pm with a break for Easter.

There will be an opportunity to meet new volunteers and hear some stories from current volunteers.

If you are interested, contact Kate Swanson on 01600 715608, Pam Lloyd on 07714287629 or [email protected]">[email protected]