Home-Start Leeds are pleased to announce that Richard McCann of the iCan Academy has agreed to be our Patron.
Home-Start Leeds was founded in 1987 and works across Leeds supporting families at difficult times in their lives when lives complexities can make it difficult to parent and look after the health and wellbeing of their children.
We offer a unique Volunteer Home Visiting scheme that works with parents to make change that will support the development and wellbeing of their children. We have a range of specialist services from pre-conception to 7 years; and also run two Dad Matters services – in Leeds and Calderdale – that support Dad’s when they struggle with their mental wellbeing around the birth of a child.
Home-Start Leeds Chair Karen Breakwell said ‘Myself and the Board of Trustees are very pleased that Richard has agreed to support us in the role of Patron. There is a lot we can learn from each other, and having Richards voice explaining the struggles Leeds families experience will help us to raise the profile of the difficulties they struggle with on a daily basis
Richard McCann listened to a presentation of Home-Start Leeds work and of the services they provide comment that ‘ I underwent a challenging start in life, marked by adversity, even before tragically losing my mother. The memories of poverty and deprivation from my early years will never be forgotten. It is disheartening to realise that, even after five decades, some families in Leeds continue to grapple with similar challenges.
Learning about the fantastic work of Home Start in supporting families facing circumstances reminiscent of my own fills me with hope. If I can contribute in any small way to raising awareness and supporting the endeavours of Leeds Home Start, it would be an honour to do so’
Tracey Simpson-Laing noted ‘Richard really understands the struggles families can experience and we look forward to working with him so we can spread the message of our work and of the struggles that families still experience in the third decade of the century’