1. Charity Registered in Scotland: SC 029770
A Company Limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland, Company No: 280852
2015

2. 2
KEY MESSAGES 2015...
 From 01 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 we supported 81 families (which included
196 children) across West Lothian by way of a Befriending Volunteer offering
support and friendship through weekly home-visiting.
 3-year funding from The Robertson Trust allowed us to increase our Co-ordinator’s
hours from part-time to full-time in September to meet the demand for the service.
 Funding from The Moffat Trust was secured to recruit a part-time Group Worker
and a part-time Administrative Assistant to meet the demands for the service.
 47 families attended our established Family Support Groups in Blackburn,
Craigshill, Broxburn and Deans.
 The Project is well utilised and demand for the service is consistent. Currently we
have a Waiting List of 17 families.
 We delivered Hampers to all our Home-Start families at Christmas courtesy of
Stoddart’s of Broxburn, Food Options UK Ltd and Russell Investments.
 We successfully sourced additional funding over and above our core funding from
the Big Lottery and West Lothian Council to offer the support group structure,
sessional outings, annual passes for West Calder Zoo and Mill Farm, and Children’s
Activity Bags.
 Currently we have 53 volunteers. We provided 3 Preparation Courses in the
time-line and successfully recruited 24 volunteers from them.
 We sourced funding to hold our third Volunteer Recognition Ceremony – over 60
people attended.
 We held a Well-Being Event in September (funded by Edinburgh & Lothian’s Health
Foundation, and the Moffat Trust) offering families Sessions self-help therapies. A
host of family orientated activities were offered to encourage playing together,
trying new activities and having fun times as a family.
 The Well-Being Event held in September 2014 was attended by West Lothian
College, The Advice Shop, Scottish Book Trust, Skills Development Scotland, Oral
Healthcare, Sure Start, Fire Safety Services and Health Improvement Team to
showcase the services they offer and engage with Home-Start families.
 Accreditation was offered throughout the time-line and 7 volunteers successfully
achieved 5 Credits towards a Level 5 in Social Care through West Lothian College
 Volunteers utilised our ongoing training calendar and tapped in to training on
Laughter for Health, Child Protection and Supporting Survivors of Childhood Sexual
Assault, Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Book bugs.

3. 3
CONTENTS...
PAGE
Chairman’s Report 4
Treasurer’s Report 5
Manager’s Report 6 & 7
Co-ordinators’ Report 8 & 9
Volunteer Recognition Ceremony 2015 10
Volunteer Training 11
Cameron House and Looking ahead 12
Family Quotes 13
Facts and Figures (and our Trustees!) 14
Wow Look How We’ve Grown! 15
Family Group Work 16 & 17
Family Summer Outing 2014 18
Family Well-Being Event 2014 19
Living Life To The Full 20
Thanks to 21

4. 4
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT...
Over the last couple of years my Chairman’s report has indicated the pace of change and how
the organisation had moved forward. Looking back I suppose I had expected that things just
might settle down. How wrong could I be?
Again, the team are at the forefront of service provision in our particular field and recognised as
being at the cutting point of change. It was very heartening for me to attend an event at the
Scottish Parliament a while back to be approached by a few other schemes who wanted to tap
into what we were doing. If that’s not a great endorsement for HSWL then I don’t know what is!
Elsewhere in this report you will see reference to the change of premises. I was extremely proud
of the team of trustees and staff who were involved in the research and contractual negotiation
to allow us to move and, again, it is an enormous plus to the team of staff, trustees and
volunteers that we had to. This wasn’t cosmetic but a legal requirement as, due to our growth
and success, we had outgrown the property in Broxburn which had served us well for the last 15
years or so.
As well as paying credit to the folks involved in the move it must be noted that there were
difficulties in transition that Shelley and the team managed tremendously and it is not surprising
to note that the only ‘change’ our volunteers and stakeholders had to contend with was a
change of address and telephone number. Believe me, I have been involved in many changes
such as this and they don’t go to plan on their own, so well done to the team.
Our recognition night gives us, and me especially, the chance to formally say thank you and
there are far too many people to name in this short report, so I won’t even try, with one
exception. Tom, our treasurer, seems to be able to make the impossible possible and has been
instrumental in making our changes affordable, so thanks Tom.
However, the volunteering side is what we are all about and we have had another fantastic year
through fantastic people who volunteer their time, effort and experience to make a difference
to families who need that support. We continue to run training for new and experienced
volunteers and, again, we have had a churn of trustees which is actually a good thing as it
brings fresh people and fresh ideas into running this business, complementing the experience
that longer occupants of the trustee’s chairs bring to the table.
To the future though and this change and continuing success sets us up for the next 15 years of
making a difference.
Expansion and growth is key to any busy organisation and, for the avoidance of any doubt, we
must continue to run HSWL as a business and the fantastic enhancement to the team that has
happened this year (staff, volunteers, trustees) simply ensures that, with a fair wind, we can
continue to make a difference to those who need it, and from the feedback we get, value the
support that the volunteers give.
It isn’t easy and we must take nothing for granted but with the reputation we have (and strive to
keep and improve), our people and our value for money approach, we are well placed for the
next 15 years, one step at a time.
Thank you all for your continuing contribution – whatever it is – big or small – I value it all.
Bill Keddie
Chair
Bill presenting one of our Volunteers with their
Recognition Certificate

5. 5
TREASURER’S REPORT...
This year as Treasurer has been both humbling and rewarding, with a significant milestone
completed in the life of Home-Start West Lothian. In presenting this year’s Treasurer’s Report,
I would like to give my personal thanks to Gillian and Shelley for the careful administration and
attention to detail in maintaining our financial records.
As you can see from our Annual Financial results, Home-Start West Lothian continues to
operate strongly in a challenging fiscal environment. As well as working closely with our key
funding partners to ensure the future success of Home-Start West Lothian, we have been
working very hard at securing further support and it is humbling to see that support put into
direct help for our families. The success of our organisation comes from great support, careful
management of funding and the dedication shown by all of our fantastic volunteers, staff and
board members towards our outcomes. Our Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, in February of
this year, was a great occasion to recognise our volunteers and showcase the valuable
contributions made to local families in our community.
Last summer we launched our revamped Home-Start West Lothian website. This new site along
with our other social media links allows us to keep in touch with you and you with us – it’s a
great way to have that connection between us.
In Home-Start West Lothian’s 15th
year we also received the best birthday present – our new
offices. The whole Home-Start team worked incredibly hard to locate new premises and then
move into Cameron House in Livingston. These new premises give us the future foundations
to make Home-Start West Lothian the best it can possibly be. I am confident that all of our
staff, volunteers and families will enjoy turning Home-Start West Lothian’s new offices into a
home-from-home.
As always, the support of our key funding partners West Lothian Council and the Big Lottery
make all of this possible. Thank you. However, it is the combination of all of our supporters,
both big and small, that allows us to provide more and more help to our families each year.
This year we have been supported by Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, BBC Children in Need,
Edinburgh & Lothian’s Health Foundation, Souter Charitable Trust, Turcan Connell, The
Robertson Trust, Early Years Early Intervention Fund, R S Macdonald Charitable Trust, Maple
Trust, Health Improvement Team, Bank of Scotland Foundation and ASDA - as well as other
individual fundraising and donations. Our families also benefitted from gifts in kind from
Scottish Book Trust, Food Options, Asda, Tesco, BT and Stoddart’s of Broxburn. Thank you all.
In all, the funding we received allowed us to support our families, secure a much needed new
home, bring on more volunteers and allowed us to manage a small carry forward to initially
fund the new and exciting opportunities that our continuing performance and success allows us
to drive towards. All of our major expenses were in line with expectations and we anticipate
even more family activities in the coming year.
Additional thanks must go to our Accountant Brian Maloney and his team, for his advice and
independently examining and producing our End of Year Accounts. Our Accounts are available
with our Annual Report and I look forward to seeing you at our AGM.
Tom Mitchell
Treasurer
Tom receiving a cheque from
Community Life sponsored by Asda

6. 6
MANAGER’S REPORT...
I begin my report just after our very first Fundraiser in our new premises! We’re now at the
lovely Cameron House on Fairbairn Road in Livingston. Although the move was much needed it
was sad to leave McLeod Street in Broxburn…so many memories, lovely times with Families and
Volunteers! This is a new exciting chapter for us though and we look forward to new challenges
and being able to have the physical space to invite families in, and being able to offer training to
Volunteers without being crammed in will be a bonus!
Our amazing Volunteers (and yes I say that every year I know) supported our first Fundraiser in
Cameron House by offering their services with the Pop-Up Shop, Massages and Nail Art as well
as hosting duties – thanks to Pamela, Sammy, Louise, Diane, Margaret and Jessica for making it
such a success! Watch this space for further events in our Calendar.
It’s been a busy year with various activities held. The Group Work and Training is highlighted
elsewhere in this Report but it’s fair to say the Staff Team has done themselves proud yet again.
The move was not without the odd hitch or two but I’m very proud of my team for keeping
services going.
A record 81 families were supported by our Volunteers in the last financial year, a growth of 19%
on the previous year. This is testament to the strength and character of our Volunteers who are
happy to commit to us, stay with us and strive to support families overcome the obstacles they
face on daily basis. Evaluations have highlighted just how much our Volunteers are valued by
their families and for many families, are an absolute life-line!
Partnerships, as always, are crucial in offering a robust package of support to families and our
Public Social Partnership consisting of Circle, Supporting Families, Families Included, Barnardos,
WLDAS, West Lothian Youth Action Project, Family Community Development West Lothian and
various statutory departments such as Housing and Education mean families in need of support
are identified and support allocated appropriately and quickly!
We continue to work in partnership with other agencies. The Health Improvement Team - in
particular Martin Oliver - and from Adult Basic Education - the lovely Lyn Gordon; supported us
again this year with the PlayLab course and the Living Life to the Full self-management
programme which we all enjoy being part of. Thank you Martin and Lyn!
Two new members of staff joined us: hello to Emily and Cheryl! Emily has added so much to the
Groups, becoming established within the Home-Start structure
very quickly; she is so creative and comes with ideas that have
added so much value to the group programme. Cheryl, as
Emily, has added so much to our wee team…..I often receive a
text message of an evening saying…..”I saw this and thought of
Home-Start” or “what do you think of this” ….. what an amazing

7. 7
team we have: dedicated, supportive, but with that ever important sense of humour, which is
required at times! Thank you so much Lisa, Carol-Anne, Gillian, Cheryl, Lesley and Emily!
Seeking out funding opportunities keeps me busy and I must take time out to thank Sharon
Houston, West Lothian Council and Jonathan Mendoza, Big Lottery for their continued support –
R S Macdonald Charitable Trust, the Souter Trust, The Moffat Trust, Lloyds TSB Foundation for
Scotland, Early Years Early Intervention Fund, Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation, BBC
Children in Need, and The Robertson Trust. – we thank you all, for your guidance, support, and
encouragement to help us support local families in our community.
Christmas isn’t Christmas without that special family dinner! We were
able to offer families a Hamper, delivered by Santa’s little helpers,
courtesy of Stoddart’s of Broxburn, Food Options Limited and Russell
Investments.
The Board of Trustees has excelled themselves again this year. We are fortunate to have so
many talented and dedicated Trustees, with the vision to steer us in the right way and move us
forward.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Volunteer Preparation Courses during this year,
meeting our new Volunteers, as well as our current Volunteers at training, at events,
and with Home-Start families in their homes. It always amazes the job our
Volunteers do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Lastly, mainly because I want to make special mention to it, I’d like to thank Kai, who came on
board to support us in implementing our Marketing Strategy. Kai is 16 and came to us to
volunteer and complete his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Jessica, who is 21, came to us to
support our Social Enterprise initiative and is completing her Saltire Award. Jenna starts with
us next week, again 16, and completing her Saltire Award. They obviously feel a responsibility
and regard for others in their community which is truly admirable. They are bright, energetic,
enthusiastic, respectful, and fun! It’s been a pleasure guys. Thank you!
Shelley Bowman
Manager
Jessica JennaKai

8. 8
CO-ORDINATORS’ REPORT...
I cannot believe that a whole year has passed since I wrote my first ever piece for our Annual
Report. So much has happened in such a short space of time regarding the growth and
development of the service that we provide for families in West Lothian. One of the biggest
developments that I have witnessed and had the pleasure to be involved in is our move to a
huge shiny new office which is more central to our families, offering easier access and more
scope to deliver our fantastic service. I have been lucky enough to meet and liaise with other
services in West Lothian allowing an awareness of other forms of support in the area which
can benefit the families we support.
Our new office has allowed more space to be able to deliver our Volunteer Preparation
Course in house and to a larger group. Our current course of eleven volunteer befrienders
yes, I said eleven!! is drawing to an end. I am confident that the new Volunteers will provide
excellent support to families that are currently waiting to be matched with a home-visiting
Befriender and it has been a privilege to be involved in the delivery of this course. Our
Volunteers are invaluable to the service we offer and I would like to thank them all for their
continued commitment and dedication to their home visiting role. This service could not run
without them!!
This year alone, I was gifted with the opportunity to meet 64 families who were interested in
our service. 45 were supported by a home visiting volunteer with family support groups
optional and 20 of those ended positively. 11 are currently waiting for support they will be
matched in the next couple of weeks once the new Volunteers are ready.
The number of families who I have had contact with this year reflects the growth of our
service and its requirement within our community. I hope that the next year will be as
rewarding as the one we have just had.
Lisa Stark
Co-ordinator
“I’d like to thank you and all your colleagues at Home-Start West Lothian for all
your help and support over the years. Your logo says “support and friendship for
families” it is so much more, you are like extended family. You’ve fed us, listened to
us, taught us new skills, been there when times were tough and nourished us. You
all do a fantastic job and really make a difference. There is so little support for
families and Home-Start is just what we needed. Thank you so much for all you’ve
done for us, we will never forget it.”
A Home-Start Family
Lisa trying her hand at Zumba at
our Family Well-Being Event

9. 9
Well - what a difference a year makes!! To say that this past year has been a rollercoaster is a
complete understatement!!
The highs have definitely been working with our fabulous volunteers who continue to amaze
and delight me with their unwavering commitment and dedication. I have also enjoyed liaising
with many other agencies which has been really interesting and rewarding!
We are now running 3 Preparation Courses a year which is fantastic and what’s even more
fantastic is that the nagging has obviously paid off and we finally have A BIGGER TRAINING
ROOM and a lovely new building which feels very grand in comparison to our old one –
although many happy years were spent there
Personally I’m delighted that the accreditation has taken off so well and the majority of our
Volunteers are now doing this. It is such a nice way for us to give something back to our
Volunteers as a token of our appreciation as they give us and our families so much.
So onwards and upwards as they say and I can’t wait to see what new highs the next year has
in store for us!
Carol-Anne Fordyce
Co-ordinator
CO-ORDINATORS’ REPORT...
Carol-Anne networking at a
Local Well-Being Event
@ Strathbrock Partnership Centre
in October 2014

10. 10
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION CEREMONY 2015
Kaim Park Hotel
20th February 2015
Celebrating 15 years of supporting families
in West Lothian with our amazing Volunteers

11. 11
VOLUNTEER TRAINING...
I think we can safely say that we have excelled ourselves as far as training is concerned this
year! We now run 3 Preparation Courses each year and we have trained an amazing 24
volunteers in that time. The accreditation has also been a huge success with 7 volunteers
successfully completing it and there are currently another 8 volunteers who are furiously
scribbling away at their assignment at this very moment!! This is a fantastic achievement and
makes us all very proud.
The on-going training has been just as successful with 25 existing volunteers attending
training on subjects such as the fantastic Laughter for Health workshop which was run by Jo
Bluett and had us all chortling and giggling for days!
We also had a visit from Bob Cowan from Police Scotland who raised awareness and taught us
a few techniques on Personal Safety and of course we had our annual Child Protection training
which will be coming up again soon for anyone who is due a catch up.
Then we all had our Fire Extinguisher Training where we were let loose outside with a
fire extinguisher and had great fun painting the outside of the
building white with foam while simultaneously becoming
experts at putting out fires (as long as they’re just small ones!)
Once again, our volunteers enjoyed their Book Bug training and of
course became the proud owner of their very own Book Bug – better
than any certificate if you ask me!
We are continuing to make the on-going training as varied, interesting and relevant as possible
and I think our next session by The Lothian Autistic Society proves this. I’m sure this will be a
very informative session and places are already filling up fast!
That just leaves me to say a huge thank you to all of the partner agencies who have given us
their time and expertise to deliver all this training and a massive welcome to our new
Volunteers – we look forward to working with you all and seeing you at the various training
events in the coming year!
Our Volunteers receiving their
Certificates at the end of the
Volunteer Preparation Course

12. 12
CAMERON HOUSE & LOOKING AHEAD...
7 April 2015: moved into our new home Cameron House
19 June 2015: Opening of The Robertson Suite and an
opportunity to raise awareness of our Social Enterprise

13. 13
FAMILY QUOTES...
 I feel that I am less anxious in general because I know that one night a week I am going to
be able to have a chat with my volunteer and have a bit of a release.
 We walked to Tesco’s and my volunteer is very good at keeping my mind busy so I was
comfortable to walk further with her because she is very patient with me.
 My volunteer was always there to talk to and that made such a big difference with my
anxiety.
 Just being able to get out of the house more is such a huge thing and our volunteer is the
reason we are now able to do that.
 My volunteer helped me and so did the course Living Life to the Full
 I am planning on applying for a college course and am thinking about either psychology or
I have a real interest in photography.
 She taught me how to pay my bills and manage my money better. I also feel confident
enough to take my children out swimming and to do try new activities.
 Before my volunteer I would never have had the confidence to attend something like the
Home-Start summer outing but now actually want to go!!
 Our volunteer has shown us ways to cope with stressful situations.
 She totally helped my state of mind so that in turn helps me to make positive changes and
choices in my life.
 I feel more confident now I’m on my own and having my volunteer is a big help.
 Getting out has shown me that I can push myself to try new things when my volunteer is
here because she does everything at my pace and pushes me without panicking me.
 I have loved the time I have had with Home-Start. My volunteer and the staff were really
helpful and amazing. Overall I can’t fault anything from them. Just a big thank you for all
of your hard work!!
 Brilliant service and my volunteer was very well matched
 I am about to start an agency computing course at college which is something I wouldn’t
have thought of doing before.
 I felt that the support was exactly what I needed at the time. You were all great!!
 I think if anything you should all receive a big gold star for all your hard work!! You have
made such a huge difference to my life!!
 To not have a time limit on volunteers and groups.
 Nothing – Home Start is a brilliant service and has done so well in matching me with my
volunteer because we get on really well!!
 More Family Group Sessions!!!
 Such an amazing service!!
All quotes are taken from our Family Annual Evaluations.

14. 14
FACTS & FIGURES...
15
37
13
14
27
13
11
21
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
AdditionalServices/Eventsofferedtofamilies
Number of families who attended Xmas
Party at Hive December 2014
Number of families given an Swimming
Bag from Swimming Initiative through
HIT
The number of Foodbank parcels
provided to families
Number of families who used the
Annual Passes to Mill Farm, Five Sisters
Zoo & Hive Soft Play
Number of families who attended the
Summer Outing August 2014
Number of families who attended the
Well Being Event September 2014
Number of families who received a
Christmas Food Hamper December
2014
Number of families who attended the
Singing Kettle January 2015
94
23
76
30
50
100
Ages of Children in Families
Supported
0-3 years
4-5 years
6-9 years
10+ years
35
4
15
1
4
1
3
9
3
1
1
2
1
1
1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Mainissuesoffamiliessupportedduringtheyear
Learning Difficulties
Illness
Victim of Racial
Harassment
Challenging Behaviour
Alcohol Dependency
Major Trauma
Lone Parent
Disability
Complex Health Issues
Sexual Abuse
Multiple births
Sexual Abuse
Domestic Abuse
Isolation
Mental Health
29
6
7
11
2
3
4
5 1
Source of new Referrals
1st April 2014 - 31st March 2015
Health Visitor
Other Health
Referrals
Social
Worker/Services
Self
Cyrenians
Sure Start
Family Centres
Other Community
Organisations
Education
OUR TRUSTEES
Diane Cooper
Louise Taylor
Margaret
SchÖnberger
Hazel Findlay
Liz Clow
Billy Steele

15. 15
WOW LOOK HOW WE’VE GROWN!!
2
3
7
0 2 4 6 8
StaffNumbers
2014/2015
2009/2010
2000/2001
0
20
40
60
80
100
16
55
81
Total Number of Families supported
2000/2001
2009/2010
2014/2015
0
50
100
150
200
Total Number of Children
Supported
41 115
196
2000/2001
2009/2010
2014/2015
0
20
40
60
Home-Visiting
Volunteers Available
16 51 53
2000/2001
2009/2010
2014/2015
£0
£50,000
£100,000
£150,000
£200,000
£48,424
£109,310
£180,484
Total amount of Income for the year
Income
2000/2001
Income
2009/2010
Income
2014/2015

16. 16
FAMILY GROUP WORK...
We are at that time of the year again when we look back and reflect on what we have managed
to achieve in the last year at our Home-Start Family Groups. One of the most important
developments to the groups was when we introduced a second Group Worker, Emily, to our
team!! She is a wee breath of fresh air!! Emily is a full time student at Queen Margaret
University, Edinburgh studying Honours BSc Psychology and in her busy schedule works at
Home-Start West Lothian 8 hours a week. Emily is gaining lots of practical experience
analysing all staff!! The second major event was when 73 of us descended upon ‘The Hive
Soft play’ for our big Christmas Party. It was lovely to share the special moment when the
children received their gifts from Santa
At the start of the year through evaluations and feedback from the parents the hard task
begins to plan the programme for the coming year and call on the services within our local
community. A big thanks has to be shared with all the fantastic representatives from the
Agencies who have given of their time (free of charge!) they come with a wealth of knowledge
to highlight their service, educate our parents/children and often bring lots of free resources.
The Agencies we have worked with are: ROSPA (Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents),
British Red Cross and Broxburn Family Centre for First Aid Training, ABE (Adult Basic
Education), Home-Energy Scotland, HIT (Health Improvement Team) The Hive Soft Play, Almond
Valley Heritage and a good friend to Home-Start West Lothian, Wilma, for delivering fun
Cupcake sessions.
Through the work we have been doing with the Health Improvement Team we are now able to
offer the families swim bags and soon to be introduced physical exercise and healthy eating
sacks.

17. 17
Due to the dynamics of the groups and the number of people attending we have had to
re-evaluate how we deliver the service. We now offer two groups at Blackburn Family Centre
and another at Daisy Drop In, all of which are afternoon sessions with Broxburn Family Centre
meeting in the morning. The groups are all about accessing what is available in the
community, making friends, building relationships, learning something new and having lots
and lots of FUN and LAUGHTER!
Our parents said: -
“The groups have helped me and my kids get out into the community and meet new people. I have really
enjoyed all the support and fun at the groups. I’m going to miss them.”
“The family groups were fantastic. Good way to encourage me to get out of house with
children to meet other people. Great activities for interaction x.”
“The Home-Start groups have been informal, relaxed and most of all fun! There has
been a wide range of activities ranging from cake decorating to a laughter workshop.
As well as providing sometime with the adults which are a much needed respite for
me, there have been opportunities to do something with the girls, I may not otherwise
do; like swimming or visiting inaccessible parks. It has been something to look forward
to each month, getting us all out of the house, doing something and interacting with
others, something I lacked confidence to do with the girls.”
Lesley Cook
Family Group Worker
When I came on board with the Home-Start team as a Family Group worker in October of 2014
the first thing to strike me was how welcome everyone made me feel. All of the staff and
volunteers involved with the organisation are truly fabulous and so very kind. Working closely
with my partner in crime Lesley has been a joy and she has done a fabulous job at taking me
under her wing and showing me the ropes. Our Home-Start Family Groups have been
wonderful this year and were extremely well received by all of the families in
attendance. One session in particular that sticks out in my mind was the
cupcake decorating that we did under the careful instruction of our good
friend Wilma. The children loved getting messy and creative with different
coloured icings and various sprinkles while the parents got equally as artsy
and in some cases even competitive with their creations! Meeting, working
with and getting to know all of the families who attend the family group
sessions has been lovely and watching them progress and grow in
confidence has been, in my opinion, the most gratifying thing to have come
from this year. In this past year being able to watch families come into the
group and have the confidence to socialise, build friendships and discuss positive changes
they are making in their lives is a true reflection on the first class support that the organisation
brings and encourages.
I thoroughly look forward to exciting and new experiences this incoming year will bring!!!
Emily Hutchison
Family Group Worker
MY FIRST MONTHS AS A FAMILY GROUP WORKER

18. 18
SUMMER OUTING 2014
6th August 2014
The Scottish weather made us change our
plans and off we went to
Our Dynamic Earth

19. 19
FAMILY WELL-BEING EVENT 2014
27th September 2014
Reiki, Hand Massage, Arts & Crafts, Messy Play, Magic Show, Market
Place with local Agencies and Zumba! Lots of fun and well-being
activities with our families at Uphall Community Centre

20. 20
LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL...
Living Life to the Full is a course which promotes coping
strategies and self-management around stress and anxiety. It
looks at how thoughts, feelings, behaviour and physical
symptoms are all inter related and how changing one aspect
(usually your thinking) can have a positive impact on the three
others. The course ran for 6 weeks with 5 families, supported
by myself and our Volunteer Diane.
Feedback highlighted that all participants have increased knowledge and skills around mental
well-being and are now more confident around the subject matter. Participants enjoyed the
informal delivery of the course, the practical exercises, and the resources which they got to
take away. Being in a new group of people, making new friends and opting to take part in
discussions without any pressure were very beneficial.
Comments from the participants included:
“I feel much more confident challenging my negative thoughts”
“I will continue to use my skills learned in my daily life. Will also be looking into Mindfulness
and Meditation!”
“The support material is good and very easy to understand”
Although attending a course in a group situation may sound pretty straight forward for some
people, it is actually a huge achievement for others depending on where they are at in their
personal lives, mentally or physically. This course did a lot more than what was anticipated by
encouraging confidence, commitment and socialisation, building friendships and sharing
experiences. As a result, we are hoping to deliver the course on a yearly basis to our families.
We would like to thank The Moffat Trust who
supported this course and provided a positive
experience for our local families, Martin Oliver
from the Health Improvement Team for
delivering the course and Seafield Community
Centre for providing the venue.
Lisa Stark
Co-ordinator

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THANKS TO...
Our funders: West Lothian Council; Big Lottery; BBC Children In Need; Lloyds TSB Foundation
for Scotland; Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation, Early Years Early Intervention Fund, The
Robertson Trust, R S MacDonald Charitable Trust and The Moffat Trust
The Maple Trust, Health Improvement Team, Souter Charitable Trust, For Energy 2050 Ltd,
Russell Investments, Bank of Scotland Foundation, British Telecom, Turcan Connell, Tesco,
Morrisons, Asda Foundation and Standard Life
Home-Start UK
Brian Maloney and Ann our Independent Examiners
Sharon Houston Link Officer with West Lothian Council
Jonathan Mendoza Funding Officer with Big Lottery
Paula Huddart Group Manager—Early Years Early Intervention Services
Uphall Community and Education Centre
Diane Mitchell Business Partnership Centre Head—West Lothian College
Stoddarts of Broxburn
Police Scotland, Wilma Philpot, Marie Claire - Dream Fitness, Lyn Gordon - Adult Basic Education
Staff at Broxburn Family Centre, Blackburn Family Centre, Daisy Drop In and Deans Community
High School
Everyone who has: Supported our ongoing development
Made a referral to the Scheme
Made a financial contribution to the Scheme
Helped with the Preparation Courses and On-going Training
Supported the Social Enterprise
A very special heart-felt THANK YOU to our
Volunteers for their continued hard work,
enthusiasm and commitment.
Success in Best Value

22. 22
HOME-START
WEST LOTHIAN
Cameron House
13a Fairbairn Road, Livingston
West Lothian, EH54 6TS
Telephone: 01506 415 755
E-mail: admin@homestartwl.org.uk
Website: www.homestartwl.org.uk
Manager: Shelley Bowman
Co-ordinator: Carol-Anne Fordyce
Co-ordinator: Lisa Stark
Office Administrator: Gillian Stewart
Administrative Assistant: Cheryl Logan
Family Group Worker: Lesley Cook
Family Group Worker: Emily Hutchison