HOME START PRAISED FOR RECORD YEAR - HUHNE

5.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Jun 2008

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne today congratulated Eastleigh Home Start - the local charity that cares for young families - on its most successful year with more home visits and more donations than ever before.

Mr Huhne was speaking at the Eastleigh Home Start annual general meeting on Tuesday at the One Community centre in Romsey Road, Eastleigh when he praised the charity's "outstanding work for the community".

Mr Huhne pointed out that a visit each week for a young mother costs £727 a year, about half of the cost nationally. "This is a real tribute to the trained volunteers who visit young parents. They and the volunteers who raise so much money deserve a tremendous cheer.

"More than 400 young local families were helped last year to get through what is often the most challenging and perplexing period of your life when the first baby arrives.

"Mary Diaper and her team make a tremendous contribution in Eastleigh with home visits to offer expertise and support, Wednesday and Friday clubs, the Monday Brunch club, and the Post Natal Depression support group as well as advising on cooking and eating healthily" said Mr Huhne.

Mr Huhne said he was particularly pleased that Home-Start manager Mary Diaper had been invited to the Queen's garden party this year in recognition of her charitable work.

Chairman Margaret Atkinson, Mary Diaper, Deputy Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Pam Holden-Brown and Jean Bradlow, the director of public health at the Hampshire Primary Care Trust also spoke about the success of the charity.