FORTY people attended the annual meeting of Home-Start West Devon recently, hosted by Okehampton staff and volunteers at the Ockment Centre.
Training manager for Relate David Lacey gave an interesting talk on 'Families and How to Survive Them.'
He said that more people got married today than ever before and were putting a great effort into maintaining good relationships.
One way in which parents could particularly help children to have successful relationships was to help them learn how to compromise and resolve conflicts, he said. Many issues that arose in adulthood would then be far easier to cope with.
Anita Stock and Jenny Pratt received 'long service' certificates from Mayor of West Devon Robin Pike for over five years service as Home-Start volunteers.
Cllr Pike said he hoped the organisation would continue to be able to support families in West Devon, particularly following the recent outbreak of foot and mouth.
A total of 31 families with 76 children have received support this year. The value to families was summed up in one family's contribution to the annual report: ' My volunteer made me realise I was not alone...she has given me the confidence to go out in the big wide world...she was perfect in every way for mine and my children's needs.'
Home-Start is currently looking for funding to ensure the future of the scheme as awards from the National Lottery Charities Board will cease from April 2002.
Anyone interested in being on the committee or befriending a family should contact Julie or Louise on 01837 53441.